HABIT	A PERENNIAL GRASS, CHARACTERIZED BY SPIKES SEPARATED BY 2-4 TIMES THEIR LENGTH, AND SPIKELETS (ESPECIALLY IN FRUIT) SPHERICAL.
STEMS	CULMS ARE TUFTED, SLIGHTLY COMPRESSED, 1-3 FT TALL FROM A PROSTRATE BASE.
LEAVES	LEAF SHEATHS ARE STRONGLY KEELED, SMOOTH. LEAVES ARE LINEAR-LANCESHAPED, FLAT OR FOLDED, 5-30 CM LONG, 0.5-1 CM BROAD. LIGULE IS ABOUT 0.5 MM.
FLOWERS	INFLORESCENCE AXIS IS 5-20 CM. FLOWER RACEMES ARE 6-9, 1.5-2.5 CM LONG, WIDELY SPACED. RACHIS IS ABOUT 0.5 MM WIDE, SLIGHTLY WINGED, PROLONGED INTO A POINT.
FRUITS	SPIKELETS ARE OVATE, GIBBOUS, 1.5-2.5 MM, MILKWHITE OR PURPLISH.