Perennial with scaly rhizomes. Culms erect, 37 cm or more tall, nodes usually hairy. Leaf sheaths papillose-pilose dorsally and along margins, but nearly glabrous toward ligule; leaf blades linear-lanceolate, 10–15 × 0.4–0.6 cm, scabrous on both surfaces, base subrounded, apex acuminate; ligule ca. 1.5 mm. Panicle linear, 11–35 cm, branches spaced, very short, appressed to axis, spikelets subtended by 1 or 2 slightly flexuous bristles; axis pubescent to pilose. Spikelets elliptic-lanceolate, ca. 2.5 mm, acute; lower glume triangular-ovate, 1/3 as long as spikelet, acute; upper glume 1/2–2/3 as long as spikelet, 5-veined, acute; lower floret neuter, shorter than upper floret, with or without palea; upper lemma finely rugose-punctate, apex purplish, acute. Fl. and fr. Sep.

* Mountain slopes, thickets, roadsides; 1300–1600 m. Guizhou.