Rhizomes leptomorph, to 1 m, sometimes partially above ground.
Culms 1–2(–3) m tall, 1–1.5 cm in diam., erect or nodding,
diffuse to dense, spreading thickets, often solitary; nodes
slightly swollen, without thorns, basal nodes with partially
thorn-like roots; internodes more or less cylindrical, short,
with thick walls, smooth, glabrous, initially green, quickly
becoming mottled to dense purple after exposure, then yellow.
Branches 3, short, budscale absent. Culm sheaths longer than the
internodes, very persistent, thin with evident tessellate
venation, margins membranous, brown-bristly around the darker
base, initially light brown marbled with white blotches; blades
very small, acicular, often less than 2 mm. Leaf sheaths
persistent, glabrous, edges shortly ciliate; ligule very short,
to 0.5 mm tall, truncate, densely pubescent; auricles absent;
oral setae up to 10 each side, erect, crinkled, white, to 5 mm
long; blades to 12 x 1 cm, venation conspicuously tessellate,
abaxially glabrous, adaxial basally sca