Culms 1.5-3.5m high, erect, woody. Leaf-blades flat, (12-) 30-60cm long, (1.2-)3-7(-10)cm wide, broadly lanceolate, acuminate, sub-amplexicaul, ± coriaceous. Panicle 30-60cm long, the branches mostly straight, erect or sub-erect. Spikelets lanceolate, 12-1.8mm long; glumes subequal, 0.5-0.8mm long, ovate, subacute to sub-rotund; sterile lemma glabrous; fertile lemma ciliate on the margins with hairs up to 0.5mm long.

Fl. & Fr. Per.: March-April.

Type locality: India.

Distribution: Pakistan (Punjab & Kashmir); throughout India eastwards to Southeast Asia.

The inflorescences of this grass are often tied together in bunches to make brooms. Pakistan represents the western limit of the species which is common throughout the rest of its range. 600-1300m.