Perennial tufted grass, 10–150 cm tall, forming dense clumps. Culms erect, stiff. Basal leaves linear-lanceolate, rough, up to 30 cm. Inflorescence a dense cylindrical spike-like panicle, 2–10 cm long, with bristles enclosing the spikelets; inner bristles much longer than the spikelets, one of the bristles characteristically longer and shouter than the rest, all sparsely to densely ciliate. Flowers bisexual.