HABIT	A PERENNIAL FROM RHIZOMES THAT MAY REACH 6.5 FEET IN HEIGHT
STEMS	ROUND TO SOMEWHAT FLATTENED, USUALLY WITHOUT HAIRS BUT SOMETIMES HAIRS MAY BE PRESENT ALONG THE MARGINS. SHEATHS MAY BE GREEN TO MAROON, ESPECIALLY NEAR THE BASE OF THE PLANT.
LEAVES	ROLLED IN THE SHOOT, WITHOUT AURICLES, 6 TO 20 INCHES LONG BY 10 TO 30 MM WIDE, WITH A PROMINENT WHITE MIDVEIN. LEAF BLADES ARE USUALLY WITHOUT HAIRS (GLABROUS) ON BOTH SURFACES, HOWEVER SOME HAIRS MAY BE PRESENT AT THE BASE OF THE LEAF BLADE. THE LIGULES ARE 3 TO 4 MM LONG, MEMBRANOUS, AND OFTEN TOOTHED AT THE TOP.
FLOWERS	SEED HEAD A LARGE, OPEN PANICLE, OFTEN WITH A PURPLISH TINT.
FRUITS	SPIKELETS 4.3-5.5 MM LONG, 1.5-2.0 MM WIDE. ELLIPTICAL IN OUTLINE WITH SHARPLY POINTED APEX; PLANO-CONVEX. MAHOGANY COLOURED, SHADING TO A REDDISH-BROWN OR YELLOW. SMOOTH AND GLOSSY.
SEEDS	OVAL, 3 TO 5 MM IN LENGTH, AND DARK RED TO BLACK AT MATURITY.