Densely caespitose perennial forming compact mats; culms glabrous to woolly-tomentose, up to 50(70) cm tall, the leaves mostly confined to the base; leaf sheaths splitting at the base into a cushion of fibres; leaf laminas 3–25 cm × up to 1.5 mm, often filiform.
Raceme 2–7(9) cm long, straight or curved, glabrous to woolly-tomentose at the base.
Spikelets 2(3)-flowered, 4.4–5 mm long; inferior glume glabrous; superior glume glabrous, crispate-hirsute or with a barbellate line on either side of the midnerve; fertile lemma 3.5–4.5 mm long; anthers 1.5–2 mm long.