Perennial, tufted. Culms 25–70 cm tall, 1–2-noded. Basal leaves reaching to panicle; leaf sheaths scabrid to white-hirsute; leaf blades setaceous, convolute, basal blades up to 30 cm, outer surface densely scabrid with some longer spinules or hirsute; ligule lanceolate, 3–7 mm, acute. Panicle open, 15–25 cm, exserted from uppermost leaf sheath; branches with axillary cushions, capillary, flexuous, with 2–4 spikelets. Spikelets green or flushed purplish; glumes subequal or lower slightly longer, lanceolate-oblong, 0.8–1 cm, apex acuminate into a fine point; callus pungent, ca. 1 mm; lemma 5–8 mm, pilose; awn ca. 2 cm, deciduous, 1–2-geniculate, column plumose, hairs 3–4 mm, 0.3–0.7 cm to first bend, 0.4–0.5 cm to second bend, this sometimes obscure, bristle 0.7–1.8 cm, scabrid. Fl. and fr. Jun–Sep.

* Mountain slopes, sand and gravel of river and lake valleys; 1400–5200 m. Gansu, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Xizang.