Tufted annual; culms up to 30 cm high, erect or geniculately ascending. Leaf-blades 2-8 cm long, 1.5-4 mm wide, densely but minutely hairy, sometimes glabrous below. Spike straight or slightly curved, 6-16 cm long, rhachis internodes covered with short retrorse hairs or glabrous. Spikelets 7-10 mm long; glumes rigid, pubescent or glabrous; lemmas 7- mm long; anthers 1.5-2.2 mm long.

Fl. & Fr. Per.: April-May.

Type: Iran, Aucher 2914(K).

Distribution: Pakistan (Baluchistan); Turkey eastwards to Turkmenistan and Tian Shan.

Two varieties are commonly recognised, var. persica with hairy spikes and var. glaberrima (Hausskn. ex Bornm.) C.E. Hubbard, 1.c. 19, with glabrous spikes.