Culms 1–2(–3.5) m, 0.3–1(–1.2) cm in diam.; internodes initially green, slightly flattened above branches, (10–)15–30 (–35) cm, white powdery, red-brown strigose especially below nodes or with imprints of fallen hairs; wall 2.5–4 mm thick; nodes weakly elevated, supra-nodal ridge absent; sheath scar weakly prominent, corky. Culm sheaths yellow-green, closely encircling culm, shorter than internode, leathery, densely red-brown strigose; auricles and oral setae absent; ligule truncate, 1–3 mm, glabrous; blade erect or later reflexed, oblong-lanceolate or lanceolate, 0.6–3 cm. Leaves 3–5 per ultimate branch; auricles and oral setae absent; ligule 1.5–3 mm, glabrous; blade abaxially gray-green, broadly oblong-lanceolate, 11–28 × 4–6.5 cm, undulate when dry, abaxially pubescent and minutely pale papillate, adaxially glabrous, secondary veins 8–15 pairs, tessellations square. Panicle 9–10 cm or more, initially terminating leafy branch, axis and branches white pubescent; branches erect. Spikelets gray-green or commonly purple-green, subterete; florets 4 or 5. Rachilla internodes densely pubescent. Glumes 2, apex subulate; lower glume ca. 2/3 as long as upper one, 3–5-veined; upper glume 5–7-veined, transverse veins distinct; lemma ca. 1.5 cm, 7–11-veined, transverse veins distinct, apex subulate; palea shorter than lemma, pubescent. Stamens 3. Styles 2. New shoots Jul–Aug, fl. Aug.

* Montane forests; 1600–1900 m. E Sichuan.