A densely tufted long-lived grass with upright or arching stems growing 30-120 cm tall. Its linear leaves (1.5-5 mm wide) are either flat or rolled inwards. Its seed-head is a loose, and either upright or nodding, branched panicle (5-40 cm long) with many flower spikelets that are borne singly. These flower spikelets are elongated in shape (10-22 mm long) and topped by a large twisted awn (45-80 mm long). The mature seed has a small membranous crown-like structure (about 1 mm long) where the awn attaches to the top of the seed. This species also produces 'stem seeds' within the leaf sheaths.