HABIT	TUFTED PERENNIAL, 45-180 CM HIGH.
STEMS	ANGULAR, RIBBED, THICKENED ABOVE THE NODE, MORE OR LESS DENSELY HAIRY.
LEAVES	EXTREMELY VARIABLE, FROM HAIRY TO NON-HAIRY AND GREEN TO BLUISH-GREEN IN COLOUR. THE BASAL LEAF SHEATHS ARE FLATTENED AND THIS TENDENCY CONTINUES THROUGH THE LEAF BLADES WHICH ARE OFTEN FOLDED, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUNG. OLDER LEAVES HAVE RED OR BROWN TINGE.
FLOWERS	INFLORESCENCE IS AN OPEN PANICLE WITH GROUPS OF SPIKELETS SITUATED ON LONG THIN SUBSIDIARY BRANCHES. EACH UNIT IS NORMALLY SUPPORTED BY A LEAF-IIKE STRUCTURE, THE SPATHE, WHICH IS OFTEN TINGED WITH MAUVE, PURPLE, BROWN OR REDDISHBROWN. EACH GROUP OF SPIKELETS CONSISTS OF 6 STERILE AND ONE FERTILE SEED BEARING UNIT. THIS FERTILE UNIT PRODUCES A LONG BROWN TO BLACK AWN WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE SEED.
SEEDS	LARGE (UP TO 10 MM) AND SHINY BLACK.