Ischaemum byrone is a grass in the Poaceae family with creeping underground stems and erect stems 40 to 80 cm (16 to 31 in) tall. The lower portion of the sheath (leaf that surrounds the stem) sometimes exhibits long hair near the base, while the upper portion is often inflated and encloses the yellow-brown inflorescences. The flat, hairless leaf blades are 7 to 20 cm (2.8 to 7.9 in) long and 3 to 5 cm (1.2 to 2 in) wide, decreasing in size toward the top of the plant. Branches of the flower clusters are digitate, originating at one point in twos and threes. Two-flowered spikelets (basic units of grass inflorescence) are of two types: one unit is sessile with a twisted bristle (awn), 2.4 to 2.6 cm (0.9 to 1 in) long; and one unit is stalked with a red-brown awn, 1.5 to 2 cm (0.6 to 0.8 in) that is twisted toward the base. The fruit is a golden oval grain about 3 mm (0.1 in) long.