Culms 15-150 cm tall, 1-10 mm thick. Ligules 1-1.5 mm; blades 5-60 cm long, usually 1-2 cm wide. Panicles 10-25 cm, with 4-50 branches. Spikelets 3-4 mm.

Ixophorus unisetus has been collected in Kleberg County, Texas, where it was being evaluated for its forage potential. It is not known to be established in the Flora region.