Rhizome neck 8–40 cm. Culms 3–4.5 m, 1–2 cm in diam.; internodes terete, 28–40 cm, initially white powdery, glabrous; wall ca. 2 mm thick; supra-nodal ridges level or prominent; sheath scar prominent, with persistent remains of sheath base. Branches 1–5 per node. Culm sheaths persistent, rectangular, ca. 2/3 as long as internodes, cartilaginous, rigid, white powdery, glabrous, margins densely yellow setulose; auricles purple, oblong; oral setae 5–8, yellow, 5–10 mm; ligule truncate, ca. 1 mm, glabrous; blade erect, purple-green, sometimes white powdery, linear-lanceolate, margins fissured. Leaves 3–7 per ultimate branch; sheath glabrous, usually initially white powdery; auricles elliptic, small; oral setae 5–12, yellow, 3–5 mm; ligule truncate, glabrous; blade broadly lanceolate, 14–17 × 3.6–4 cm, glabrous, secondary veins 7- or 8-paired, transverse veins obscure, base rounded, margins sparsely serrulate. Inflorescence unknown. New shoots Aug–Sep.

The shoots are edible and are highly prized; the culms are used for weaving.

* 2600–3000 m. SE Yunnan.