Its culms are erect and 70–100 centimetres (28–39 in) long, with swollen nodes and hairy leaf sheaths.

Leaf blades are 30–40 centimetres (12–16 in) long and 3 mm wide; they are stiff, leathery, and convolute.

[6] Aristida rufescens is one of the dominant species in the grasslands of the central high plateaus of Madagascar.

[6][7] It is extremely fire-tolerant; although of poor quality when mature, young resprouts after fire are protein-rich cattle feed in the September to November "hungry season".

In Malagasy, it is known locally as horona, horombohitra, kofafa vavy, horombavy, or pepeka.