Sw., Prodr. Veg. Ind. Occ. 21.1788 Slender, aquatic perennial, to 1 m tall; culms rooting at lower nodes, erect, retrorsely hirsute at nodes. Sheaths shorter than the internodes, keeled, glabrous to sparsely retrorsely hirsute, ciliate, with a small auricle at apex; ligule to 3 mm long, truncate, fused with auricles; blades mostly 15-30 cm long, 5-12 mm wide, scabrid at least on midrib below. Inflorescence a narrow panicle to 20 cm long, the branches scabrous; spikelets 3 mm long, often purplish, inequilateral in side view, lacking glumes; lemma and palea equal in length, the veins scabrid, the margins hispid-ciliate. Fruits not seen. Croat 12939. Frequent in the marshes at the edge of the lake. Flowers sporadically throughout the year, especially in the rainy season.