Culms 2.5–3.5 m, 1–1.8 cm in diam.; internodes green, terete, (6–)18–22(–32) cm, shallowly grooved above branches, sparsely gray-white setose, hollow; wall 2–4.5 mm thick; nodes prominent, dark brown, slightly pubescent; root thorns spreading or slightly reflexed, 2–4 mm. Branches 3(–10) per node. Culm sheaths deciduous, striate, concave or truncate, longer than internode, leathery, sparsely appressed tawny setose, attenuate, apex 0.8–1 cm wide; auricles absent; oral setae absent to 2; ligule conspicuous, often split, 8–18 mm, apex serrate; blade reflexed, triangular or lanceolate, 7–25(–90) × 2.5–3.5 mm. Leaves 3–6 per ultimate branch; sheaths glabrous; ligule truncate, ca. 1 mm, ciliate; auricles absent or inconspicuous; oral setae 5–8, 2.5–8 mm; blade linear-lanceolate, 4.5–14 × (0.4–)0.7–1.1 cm, secondary veins (2 or)3- or 4-paired, transverse veins distinct, one margin minutely serrulate-scabrid. Inflorescence and caryopsis unknown. New shoots Jun–Jul.

The culms are used for construction.

* Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 1800–2000 m. S Yunnan (Lüchun).