Perennial, subdensely tufted, rhizomatous; rhizomes elongate, slender. Culms erect, 15–60 cm tall, 2–3 mm in diam., smooth, (2–)3–4-noded. Leaf sheaths smooth or slightly scabrid; leaf blades flat or involute, 9–20 cm, 2–5 mm wide, cm, slightly scabrid, apex long-acuminate; ligule 2–4 mm, toothed. Panicle loosely contracted, lanceolate-oblong in outline, 6–17 × 3–6 cm; branches in whorls of 3–5, ascending, 3.5–8 cm, slightly scabrid. Spikelets 5–6.5 mm, dark purple, florets (1–)2, upper floret slightly smaller; glumes subequal, 1-veined, slightly scabrid, lower glume broadly lanceolate, apex acute or slightly obtuse, upper glume lanceolate, apex acuminate; callus hairs 1/4–1/3 length of lemma; lower lemma 4–5 mm, upper lemma 3–3.5 mm, upper part purplish and scabrid, margins white, membranous, apex 4-toothed; awn arising from upper 1/5–2/5 of lemma, 8–10 mm, geniculate; palea 2/3 as long as lemma; rachilla internode between florets and extension above upper floret ca. 1 mm, pilose with hairs 0.8–1.5 mm. Anthers 2–2.5 mm. Fl. Sep.

This species is unusual in Deyeuxia in that most spikelets have 2 florets. However, spikelets with 2 florets do occur sporadically in other normally 1-flowered species. The rachilla is also well developed, so possibly this species represents a primitive state within the genus. The spikelets are otherwise typical of Deyeuxia.

* Alpine meadows, under alpine shrubs; 3900–4000 m. Xizang.