Calamagrostis littorea (Schrader) P. Beauvois var. tar-tarica J. D. Hooker; C. pseudophragmites (A. Haller) Koeler subsp. tartarica (J. D. Hooker) Tzvelev; C. pseudophragmites var. tartarica (J. D. Hooker) R. R. Stewart; C. tartarica (J. D. Hooker) D. F. Cui, nom. illeg. superfl.

Perennial, densely tufted, rhizomatous. Culms erect, 20–70 cm tall, 1–3 mm in diam., 2–4-noded, smooth. Leaf sheaths smooth; leaf blades often involute, 5–10(–20) cm, 1–3 mm wide, adaxial surface and margin scabrid, abaxial surface smooth; ligule 3–5 mm, apex lacerate. Panicle dense, cylindrical, 4–13 cm, slightly lobed but primary branches congested; branches scabrid. Spikelets 4.5–6.5 mm, grayish brown or purplish; glumes narrowly lanceolate, unequal, upper glume 2/3–7/8 length of lower glume, keel scabrid, apex acuminate-subulate; callus hairs equaling or longer than lemma; lemma about 1/2 as long as glumes, 2–4 mm, apex slightly denticulate; awn arising from apex, 0.5–1(–2) mm, straight, not projecting from glumes; palea 1/2 as long as lemma; rachilla not extended. Stamens 3, anthers ca. 2 mm. Fl. Aug–Sep.

This taxon represents a small form of Calamagrostis pseudo-phragmites with a congested, usually purple panicle. It is often recognized at infraspecific rank (C. pseudophragmites subsp. tartarica), but at the specific rank the epithet "hedinii" has priority.

Damp sandy or stony places; 700–3000 m. Qinghai, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Xizang [NW India, Kashmir, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan].