Rhizome neck 5–20 cm. Culms 3–7 m, 1–5 cm in diam.; internodes initially black-green, terete, 30–50 cm, very rigid, with a brown setose ring below each node, longitudinal ribs prominent, solid, supra-nodal ridge level or prominent; sheath scar prominent, initially brown setose. Branches 3–11 per node. Culm sheaths persistent, narrowly triangular, shorter than internode, leathery, rigid, densely brown to dark brown setose, longitudinal ribs prominent, margins densely brown setose; auricles absent; oral setae deciduous, erect, yellow, 5–8 mm; ligule purple, truncate or arcuate, ca. 1 mm, initially densely brown ciliate, becoming fissured; blade reflexed, linear-lanceolate, glabrous, usually rolled. Leaves 3–6 per ultimate branch; sheath glabrous; auricles absent; oral setae few, readily deciduous, erect, yellow; ligule truncate, initially sparsely pilose, uniformly fissured; blade lanceolate, 12–21 × 1.1–2.1 cm, initially pubescent, secondary veins 4–6-paired, transverse veins distinct, margins serrulate. Inflorescence unknown. New shoots Jul–Aug.

* 2000–3200 m. NW Yunnan.