Rhizome neck 5–9 cm. Culms 4–8 m, 2–5 cm in diam.; internodes terete, 25–45 cm, glabrous; wall 3.5–6 mm thick, pith granular; supra-nodal ridges prominent; sheath scar prominent, with persistent remains of sheath base. Branches 3–18 per node. Culm sheaths gradually deciduous to persistent, narrowly triangular, shorter than internodes, leathery, yellow to yellow-brown setose, setae especially dense and long at base, longitudinal ribs prominent, margins ciliate; auricles present or absent; oral setae erect or curved, yellow, 4–12 mm; ligule purple, truncate or convex, 1–1.5 mm, setulose, fimbriate, yellow ciliate; blade readily deciduous, reflexed, linear-lanceolate, adaxially puberulous proximally, glabrous. Leaves 2 or 3 per ultimate branch; sheath glabrous or margins initially slightly ciliate; auricles absent or obscure; oral setae yellow, few, 3–6 mm; ligule purple, truncate, glabrous; blade narrowly rounded to lanceolate, 7–10 × 1.2–1.6 cm, glabrous, secondary veins 3–5-paired, transverse veins slightly distinct, base broadly cuneate, margins nearly smooth. Inflorescence unknown. New shoots Sep.

The shoots are edible, and the culms are used for weaving.

* 2900–3200 m. SW Yunnan.