HABIT	A TALL, ROBUST PERENNIAL MARCH PLANT.
STEMS	USUALLY 1.5-3 M HIGH WITH A CREEPING, BRANCHED RHIZOME.
LEAVES	DISTICHOUS, SEMICYLINDRICAL ABOVE THE LEAF SHEATH, SPONGY UP TO 3 M LONG AND 2-3.5 CM WIDE, OFTEN LONGER THAN THE FLOWERING STALK, NARROWER ABOVE THE SHEATH.
FLOWERS	CMINUTE, BORNE ON CYLINDRICAL SPIKES, 0.8-2.2 CM IN DIAMETER, THE MALE AND FEMALE SPIKES OFTEN WIDELY SEPARATED ON THE STALK, SOMETIMES ON DIFFERENT PLANT; MALE SPIKES 25-50 CM LONG, CONSISTING OF DEEP-YELLOW ANTHERS; FEMALE SPIKES 22-38 CM LONG, PALE BROWN.
FRUITS	FUSIFORM, DEHISCENT BY AN APICAL LID.