Plant loosely tufted or single-stemmed; shoots extravaginal. Culms 80–100 cm tall, nodes 2–3. Leaf sheaths scabrid, basal sheaths with retrorse hairs; auricles absent; leaf blades flat, (10–)15–30(–60) cm × 5–12(–15) mm, margins scabrid, veins 14–36; adaxial to abaxial sclerenchyma strands present; ligule 1.5–3(–5) mm, margin ciliolate. Panicle loose, open, erect or nodding, 18–22 cm; branches 4–11 cm, (1–)2(–3) at lowest node, lower 1/2–2/3 naked. Spikelets (7–)9–11 mm; florets (1–) 3–4; glumes glabrous or hairy; lower glume narrowly lanceolate, 2.5–3(–4) mm, apex acuminate; upper glume broadly lanceolate, 3.5–4(–5) mm, apex acute to obtuse; rachilla internodes 1.2–1.8 mm; lemmas 6.5–8.5 mm, punctiform or scabrid, 5-veined; awns absent; palea keels scaberulous. Anthers 2.5–3.5 mm. Ovary apex moderately to densely hairy. Fl. and fr. Apr–Sep.

Forests, grassy mountain slopes, valleys; 1000–3600 m. Gansu, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan [NW India, Nepal].