Tufted perennial; culms 30-150 cm high. Leaf-blades up to 30 cm long, 3–7 mm wide, glabrous or pubescent. Inflorescence composed of 2-4(-8) racemes, terminal or with 1-2 axillary branches; racemes 2.5-7.5 cm long, green, sessile or supported by a short raceme–base 4–8 mm long; internodes linear, widening above to a cupuliform tip with scarious denticulate rim. Sessile spikelet narrowly elliptic-oblong, 4.5-6.5 mm long; lower glume concave on the back, the keels dorsal, wingless, intercarinal nerves or 1 vanishing below the middle; upper glume wingless on the keel; upper lemma hyaline, bibbed to about the middle, with an awn 8-15 mm long. Pedicelled spikelet narrowly elliptic–oblong, 4.5–6.5 mm long.

Type: India, C. B. Clarke 41961 (K).

Distribution: Kashmir; India (Himalayas and Naga Hills), Nepal and southern Tibet.