HABIT	AN ERECT ANNUAL GRASS.
STEMS	UP TO 4 METRES TALL, ERECT, PROFUSELY TILLERING, ROOTS NEAR THE BASE OF THE PLANT. STEMS AND LEAVES ARE COVERED WITH STIFF, IRRITATING HAIRS.
LEAVES	LEAF BLADES ARE 15-45 CM LONG, 5-20 MM WIDE AND FLAT; CHARACTERIZED BY PALE, GREEN-COLOR.
FLOWERS	INFLORESCENCE IS A CYLINDRICAL RACEME THAT IS 3-15 CM LONG. THE FLORAL UNITS CONSIST OF A SESSILE SPIKELET, PEDICELLATE SPIKELET AND INTERNODE. THE PEDICEL IS FUSED TO THE SWOLLEN FLORAL INTERNODE. THE SPIKELETS ARE AWNLESS, 3.5 – 6 MM LONG, AND 2.5 – 3 MM WIDE. THE FLORAL UNITS SEPARATE AND FALL AS SOON AS THEY MATURE, FROM THE TOP OF THE RACEME DOWNWARDS.
FRUITS	CARYOPSIS OBLONG-OVATE, GIBBOUS, 3 – 4 MM LONG, 2 – 2.2 MM WIDE.