Tufted perennial 20-35 cm high, rarely less. Leaf-blades involute and setaceous, up to c. 1 mm wide when flattened, ± smooth to scabrid on the lower (outer) surface; ligule 2-3 mm long. Panicle contracted, fairly dense, 5-10 cm long, partially enclosed by the inflated sheath of the uppermost leaf, occasionally fully exserted. Glumes narrowly lanceolate, long-acuminate, (15-)20-35(-42)mm long, sometimes faintly tinged with purple, 3-nerved; lemma terete, 6-10 (-12) mm long (including callus), shortly pubescent in the lower half but with rows of short hairs extending into the upper and with a crown of short hairs at the tip; callus acuminate, pungent, 1.5-2.5 mm long. Awn bigeniculate, articulated at the base, 3.5-6(-7) cm long; column shortly hairy (hairs 0.4-1 mm long); bristle plumose with hairs (2-)3-5 mm long.

Fl. & Fr. Per.: July-August.

Type: USSR, Altai, C.A. Meyer (LE).

Distribution: Kashmir: southern USSR from the Caspian Sea to Mongolia; Iran to the Himalayas and Tibet.

A high alpine species collected at 4000 m in Ladak.