Stipa mongholica Turczaninow ex Trinius, Mém. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint-Pétersbourg, Sér. 6, Sci. Math., Seconde Pt. Sci. Nat. 4, 2(1): 42. 1836; Ptilagrostis tibetica (Mez) Tzvelev; Stipa tibetica Mez.

Perennial, densely tufted. Culms 30–60 cm tall, 1–1.5 mm in diam., usually 2-noded. Leaf blades setaceous, up to 20 cm, abaxial surface scabrid; ligule obtuse, 1–3 mm. Panicle open, ovate in outline, 12–17 × 6–9 cm; branches single or paired, with prominent axillary cushions, widely spreading, capillary, lower part bare, pedicels long, capillary. Spikelets dark-purple or grayish at base, whitish scarious above; glumes elliptic-oblong, 4.5–6(–7) mm, 3–5-veined, apex scabrid, obtuse to acute; lemma 4–6 mm, pilose below middle, scabrid above; awn 1.5–3 cm, weakly geniculate, column slightly flexuous, plumose, hairs 1.2–1.5 mm; palea equal to lemma, 2-veined. Anthers 1.8–3 mm, glabrous at apex. Fl. and fr. Jul–Aug.

Alpine steppes; 2000–4600 m. Gansu, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Yunnan [Bhutan, Kashmir, Mongolia, Nepal, Russia].