Rhizomatous perennial, 15-50 cm tall; calms glabrous. Leaves crowded; sheaths usually glabrous, ciliate near apex; blades 4-30 cm long, 3-10 mm wide, glabrous, ciliate near the base. Racemes 2 (rarely 3), subconjugate, 3-12 cm long; spikelets solitary, ovate or obovate' 2.5-3.8 mm long, 2-2.7 mm wide, piano-convex, glabrous; first glume lacking; second glume and sterile lemma covering fruit. Fruits 2.5-3.5 mm long, white, shiny, minutely striate. Croat 16565.