Tufted perennial; culms 30-100 cm high, wiry. Leaf-blades flat, 5-40. cm long wide, glaucous, long acuminate to a filiform tip. Raceme 3-12 gently curved. Sessile spikelet 6-10 mm long, laterally compressed; lower glume narrowly oblong-elliptic, thinly coriaceous with a membranous tip up to a quarto its length, 2 keeled, concave between the keels, lyrately nerved with 2-3 closely spaced nerves adjacent to each keel; upper lemma with an awn 2-4 cm long, minutely ciliolate along the spiral. Pedicelled spikelet lanceolate, 6-10 mm long, purplish, ciliate; lower glume with a mid-nerve and 2-3 conspicuous lateral nerves adjacent to each keel.

Type: India, Rattler (K).

Distribution: Pakistan (N.W.F.P.); tropical Africa and Arabia, extending through India to China, and southwards to Australia.

Considered to be an excellent fodder grass.