Tufted perennial; culms slender, 50-150 cm high. Leaf-blades 10-30 cm long, 2-7 mm wide, rounded or slightly narrowed at the base. Inflorescence 8-25 cm long; racemes reduced to a single triad of 1 sessile and 2 pedicelled spikelets, rarely with 2-6 sessile spikelets (up to 10 in Australia). Sessile spikelet narrowly oblong, 2.4-3.3 mm long, scabrid, occasionally pubescent, acute; lower glume shallowly concave with 2 intercarinal nerves; awn 10-15 mm long. Pedicelled spikelet lanceolate, 2.2-3.5 mm long.