Tufted rhizomatous perennial up to 70 cm high. Leaf-blades involute and setaceous, occasionally flat, up to 5 mm wide, green or glaucous, smooth or scaberulous; ligule c.2 mm long. Panicle contracted or spreading, 10-15 cm long, the branches bare in the lower part. Glumes subequal, lanceolate-elliptic, acute, 7.5-8.5 mm long, 3-nerved; lemma 7-9 mm long (including callus and the 2-4 mm long bristles), hairy with hairs up to 2 mm long; callus 0.8 mm long. Awn 12-15 mm long, scabrid.

Type: Tibet, Thorold 124 (K).

Distribution: Kashmir; Tibet.

In Fl. Iran. Bor also cites Chitral: Gujar, S. A. Harriss s.n., but this speci¬men has not been seen.