Perennial with short rhizomes. Culms slender to robust, 1–2 m tall. Leaf sheaths papillose-pilose in upper part and mouth; leaf blades linear-lanceolate, flat, 10–40 × 0.6–3 cm, glabrous or pilose, the lower narrowed to a slender base, apex long acuminate; ligule ca. 2 mm. Inflorescence axis 4–20 cm; racemes up to 30, 3–6 cm, ascending, axils long pilose; spikelets paired, in 4 dense rows; rachis winged, 0.5–1.5 mm wide, margins scabrous, sometimes setose. Spikelets often purplish, oblong-navicular, 1.5–2.5 mm, glabrous; both glumes absent; lower lemma as long as spikelet, concave, membranous, 3-veined with laterals marginal; upper lemma dorsally convex, papery, 5-veined, veins prominent and forming ribs, apex acute. Fl. and fr. summer–autumn. 2n = 20, 40.

This is the only species of Paspalum in China lacking both glumes.

The species is cultivated for hay and sometimes used in soil conservation work.

Cultivated. Gansu [native to South America].