Rhizome neck 5–10 cm, 1–2.5 cm in diam. Culms 4–6 m, 1–2.5 cm in diam.; internodes terete, 28–40 cm, initially densely white powdery, longitudinal ribs conspicuous; wall 2–3 mm thick; supra-nodal ridges level, initially white powdery; sheath scar prominent. Branches 5–18 per node, deflexed, slender, densely white powdery. Culm sheaths persistent, gray-yellow to yellow-brown, distally rounded, leathery, glabrous, longitudinal ribs conspicuous and curved at apex of culm sheath; auricles absent; oral setae usually absent; ligule ca. 1 mm, convex; blade readily deciduous, reflexed, linear-lanceolate, glabrous, usually revolute, articulate with sheath. Leaves 2 or 3 per ultimate branch; sheath glabrous; auricles and oral setae absent; ligule truncate or arcuate, ca. 1 mm; blade lanceolate, 5–8 × 0.8–1.3 cm, glabrous, secondary veins 3- or 4-paired, transverse veins distinct, base nearly rounded, one margin spinescent-serrulate, other margin obscurely so. Inflorescence unknown. New shoots Jul.

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

* About 3800 m. NW Yunnan.