Annual. Culms 20-100 cm high. Panicle 1-6 cm long, 1-2 cm wide, ovate-oblong. Glumes 4-6.5 mm long, ± equal, broadly winged, the wing margin usually erose-denticulate, occasionally entire; sterile floret, 1,1-1.8 mm long or very short and only 0.2-0.3 mm long, glabrous; fertile floret broadly lanceolate-ovate, 2.7-4 mm long, grey-brown and shiny at maturity, pubescent.