Wood small-reed

The foliage is a medium green and is perennial with lengthy rhizomes. The culms are erect and are 60–200 centimetres (24–79 in) long while the leaf-blades are 70 centimetres (28 in) long and 3–14 millimetres (0.12–0.55 in) (in some cases even 20 millimetres or 0.8 inches) wide. Its ligule is 4–12 millimetres (0.16–0.47 in) long and is acute and lacerate. The species also have an erect panicle which is 15–30 centimetres (5.9–11.8 in) long and is also oblong and almost lanceolate. The spikelets are 4.5–7 millimetres (0.18–0.28 in) long while therhachilla is prolonged. The glumes are scaberulous and lanceolate while the lemma is only a half of its length. Its awns are 1–2.5 millimetres (0.04–0.10 in) and are located closer to the lemmas middle

The large inflorescence is a rich brown colour. The flowers form dense and narrow spikes 25–35 centimetres (10–14 in) long.