Rhizome neck to 62 cm; internodes solid. Culms 2–4.5 m, 1–3 cm in diam.; internodes terete, 16–40 cm, initially white powdery, glabrous, nearly solid; supra-nodal ridges level; sheath scar prominent. Branches 3–15 per node, erect or deflexed. Culm sheaths persistent, dark purple or with light yellow stripes, narrowly rounded-triangular or narrowly triangular, 2/5–1/2 as long as internodes, cartilaginous, glabrous or basally yellow-brown setulose, margins initially setulose; auricles and oral setae absent; ligule truncate or convex, glabrous; blade reflexed, linear-lanceolate, glabrous, margins initially serrulate. Leaves 3–5 per ultimate branch; sheath margins glabrous or initially ciliate; auricles absent; oral setae present or absent; ligule truncate, glabrous; blade lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, 3–12.5 × 0.7–1.2 cm, glabrous, secondary veins 3–5-paired, transverse veins distinct, base cuneate, one margin spinescent-serrulate, other margin smooth. Inflorescence a panicle or raceme. Spikelets 2–12, dark purple, 2.2–7 cm; rachilla 3–4 mm, margins densely ciliolate, apically setulose and swollen; florets 4–9, terminal one sterile. Lemma mucronate or acuminate at apex; palea 2-keeled, keels ciliolate, apically bifid. Ovary ovoid; style 1. Caryopsis purple, oblong, with persistent style base. New shoots Sep.

The culms are split for weaving.

* 2300–3000 m. SW Yunnan.