Aeluropus littoralis (Gouan) Parlatore var. sinensis Debeaux, Actes Soc. Linn. Bordeaux 33: 73. 1879; A. littoralis subsp. sinensis (Debeaux) Tzvelev.

Culms 15–35 cm tall, 1.5–2 mm in diam., many-noded, nodes ± pubescent. Leaf sheaths glabrous but pilose at mouth and base; leaf blades flat, glabrous, 3–6 × 0.3–0.6 cm; ligule truncate, ca. 0.5 mm. Inflorescence spikelike, 2–5 × 0.5–1.5 cm; racemes congested. Spikelets 4–6 mm, florets 4–6; glumes and lemmas glabrous or scabrid along midvein; lower glume ca. 2 mm; upper glume ca. 3 mm; lowest lemma ca. 3.5 mm. Fl. and fr. summer.

Aeluropus sinensis is rather more robust than typical A. littoralis and has a more compact inflorescence.

* Maritime or alkaline sand; near sea level to 3000 m. Gansu, Hebei, Henan, Jiangsu, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Shandong, Shanxi, Xinjiang.