Tufted annual; culms 5-60 cm high, erect or geniculately ascending. Leaf-blades up to 18 cm long and 8 mm wide, flat, vinous to pubescent or ± glabrous. Panicle cylindrical and dense or pyramidal, lax and ± lobed, 1-12 cm long. Spikelets 3-6(-10)-flowered, 3-7.5 mm long; rhachilla not produced, subglabrous or with hairs not more than 0.5 mm long; glumes glabrous or hairy, acute, the lower narrowly lanceolate, 2-3 mm long, 1-nerved, the upper elliptic, 2.5-3.5 mm long, 3-nerved; lemma elliptic, 25-35 mm long, glabrous or sparsely hairy, the surface smooth or minutely papillose, acute; awn 1-3 mm long, usually straight.

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

Type locality: Portugal.

Distribution: Pakistan (Baluchistan, Punjab, N.W.F.P. & Kashmir); Northwest India to the Mediterranean region; introduced in South Africa, North America etc.

A widespread and variable species, often occuring as a garden weed, but where it grows in quantity it has been recommended for fodder. Specimen Sultanul Abedin 3012 (K) from Jilogis is remarkable for having proliferating spikelets in the lower part of some of the panicles. 300-2000 m.