Culms 5–12 m, 2–6 cm in diam.; internodes initially deep green, flattened above branches, 30–40(–80) cm, glaucous, glabrous, apically minutely papillate. Culm sheaths initially red-brown, basally suboblong, leathery, slightly glaucous, setose, densely so at base, margins ciliate, apex broadly rounded; auricles very variable, scabrid, tomentose; oral setae curved, ca. 2 cm; ligule arcuate, ca. 4 mm, uniform; blade reflexed, green, lanceolate. Leaves 3–6(–9) per ultimate branch; sheath glabrous; auricles obscure; oral setae deciduous, radiate, ca. 1.5 cm, undulate; ligule truncate or subrounded; blade 6–22 × 1–3.5 cm, secondary veins 4–8-paired, margins serrulate. Spikelets 1–3(–5), lateral spikelets sessile, terminal spikelet on 2–11 mm pedicel, linear, 8–20 × 0.2–0.3 cm; florets 7–12 mm, glabrous. Lemma ovate, ca. 7 mm wide, margins ciliate, apex acute; palea elliptic; lodicules nearly rhombic, elliptic or ovate, ca. 2.5 mm, ciliolate. Anthers light yellow. Ovary glabrous; style 1, extremely short; stigmas 3, 3–4 mm. New shoots Apr–May.

Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi [N Vietnam; introduced in Japan].