Perennial, loosely tufted, rhizomatous; rhizomes elongate, slender. Culms erect or decumbent, (5–)10–20 cm tall, ca. 1 mm in diam., densely pubescent below panicle, 1–2-noded. Leaf sheaths scabrid, tight on tillers, inflated on culm; leaf blades involute, rarely flat, 0.5–8 cm, 1.5–2.5 mm wide, scabrid, apex obtuse; ligule 2–4 mm, hirtellous, lacerate. Panicle very dense, spikelike, broadly oblong to ovate in outline, 1–2.5 × 1–1.5 cm, axis densely pubescent; branches abbreviated. Spikelets 4.5–6 mm, purple or brownish purple; glumes lanceolate, subequal, thin, margins subhyaline, dorsally densely villous to scabrid-hirtellous or subglabrous, lower glume 1-veined, upper glume 3-veined, apex acute to apiculate; callus hairs ca. 3/4 length of lemma; lemma ca. 4 mm, apex 4-denticulate; awn sub-basal, 5–8 mm, geniculate with twisted column; palea subequal to lemma; rachilla 2–3 mm, including hairs 4–5 mm. Anthers 2–2.5 mm. Fl and fr. Jul–Aug.

This species occurs at higher altitudes than any other species of Deyeuxia in China.

Alpine meadows, grassy slopes, wet sandy or gravelly places in montane regions; 3000–5500 m. Qinghai, Xizang [India].