Loosely tufted annual or short-lived perennial; culms (5-) 15-40 cm high, ascending. Leaf-blades lanceolate to narrowly ovate, 1.54 (-5.5) cm long, 4-7.5 mm wide. Spikes 5-15 (-20) cm long, exserted from the uppermost sheath, the spikelets densely to rather loosely packed and ascending or spreading horizontally. Spikelets 1.5-2.5 mm long, with an obscure conical callus 0.1-0.2 mm long; glumes scaberulous to minutely hispidulous, the hairs in distinct rows, bearing a flexuous awn 5-15 mm long.

Type: Himalayas, Royle 280 (LIV).

Distribution: Pakistan (Sind); from Northwest India to Southeast Asia and Taiwan.

This species may be mistaken for Perotis indica (Linn.) O. Ktze. (which is so far not recorded for Pakistan) from which it is separated by rather trivial characters. In Perotis indica the callus is more pronounced, 0.2-0.5 mm long, and the hairs on the glumes are scattered rather than in distinct rows. The distinction between the two species is not always apparent, and whether or not it can he maintained awaits further investigation.