Hordeum kronenburgii Hackel, Allg. Bot. Z. Syst. 11: 133. 1905; Elymus kronenburgii (Hackel) Nikiforova.

Culms usually densely tufted, (50–)70–90 cm tall, 3–5-noded, glabrous, but pubescent just below spike. Leaf sheath grayish brown at base when older, ± separating into individual fibers; ligule 0.4–2 mm; leaf blade green or glaucous green, flat, 3–13 × 0.2–5 cm. Spike greenish, 5–7 × 0.9–1.2 cm; rachis pubescent, margin hirsute. Spikelets usually 3 per node, narrowly ovate, 0.8–1 cm, with 1(or 2) florets. Glumes violet tinged, (6.5–)8–10 mm, pilose. Lemma 6–12 mm, prominently 5-veined, pilose, tapering into a short awn (1.8–)2–3.5 mm. Palea equaling lemma, ciliate along keels. Lodicules 0.6–1.3 mm. Anthers violet, 5–6 mm. Caryopsis 4–4.5 mm. Fl. and fr. Jun–Aug. 2n = 14.

Grassy places on mountain slopes or river banks. Gansu, Qinghai, Xinjiang [Russia; C Asia].