Perennial forming small dense tussocks from a short rootstock; basal sheaths persistent. Culms stiffly erect, 7–45 cm tall, 1–2 mm in diam., scabrid under panicle, otherwise smooth, 2–3-noded. Leaf sheaths scaberulous; leaf blades stiff, setaceous, 3–16 cm, 1–2 mm wide, both surfaces and margins scabrid, apex acute; ligule membranous, 0.5–2 mm, truncate or obtuse, ciliolate. Panicle narrowly lanceolate in outline, 3–8.5 cm; branches erect, up to 3 cm; pedicels hispid. Spikelets 8–12 mm, greenish with purple apices; rachilla extension minute; glumes lanceolate, as long as spikelet, 5-veined, almost smooth or scaberulous; lemma (6–)8–9 mm, 5-veined, villous, lobes 3–6 mm; awn 0.9–1.1 cm; palea a little shorter than lemma, pubescent between veins, apex 2-toothed. Lodicules 1.5–2 mm. Anthers ca. 1 mm. Ovary glabrous. Fl. and fr. Aug–Sep.

A third small lodicule may be present in this species. Sinochasea is sometimes included within the otherwise unispecific genus Pseudo-danthonia Bor & C. E. Hubbard, because P. himalaica (J. D. Hooker) Bor & C. E. Hubbard shares the unusual character of an ovary bearing 3 stigmas. Sinochasea is recognized here as distinct, because Pseudo-danthonia differs by its 2-keeled, winged palea (not seen elsewhere in Stipeae) and hairy ovary.

Pseudodanthonia himalaica is known at present only from the NW Himalayas in India. It is a tussocky species about 50 cm tall with a long, acute ligule to 7 mm, larger spikelets with several florets, a geniculate awn to 2 cm, and shorter, obovate lodicules.

* Alpine meadows, mountain slopes; 3800–5100 m. Qinghai, Xizang.