C. alsia Raymond, in M. Koeie & Rech. fil. in Dan. Biol. Skr. 14: 23. 1965.

Perennial, 40-50 cm. Rhizome short, remains of scales fibrous. Leaves flexuous; sheaths 20-40 mm; ligule to 1 mm; blades 2-3 mm wide, obscurely papillose. Inflorescence a rather loose head of 2-4 spikes. Lowest bracts green, up to equalling inflorescence. Terminal spikes, 12-15 x 7-8 mm, others 8-11 x 4-6 mm, entirely female; female glumes 2.9-3.5 x 1.3-1.5 mm, dark reddish brown, apex with narrow, involute, scarious margin; utricles 2.7-3 x 1.7-1.9 mm, widely ellipsoid, yellowish to golden-brownish, shiny, obscurely papillose. Nut 1.7-2 x 0.9-1 mm, yellowish.

Fl. Per.: July.

Holotype: Pakistan, Chitral, Khotan, N. of Mastuj, between Turikho and Mastuj Rivers, alt. 13000 ft., on rock ledges, 11.VII.1958, J.D.A. Stainton 2839 (W!) isotype (BM!).

Rock ledges at c. 4000 m; Distribution: Endemic to Chitral and Gilgit.

Reported from Gilgit (Yasin) by Dickoré (1995). The taxon represents the southernmost part of the distribution area of C. decaulescens. The best differences from subsp. decaulescens are found in the width of spikes, length of female glumes, the glume/utricle length relation and the width of utricles. However, more material is required for establishing the morphological variation within the species (see also Dickoré 1995). Egorova (1999) synonymizes C. decaulescens V. Krecz. and C. popovii V. Krecz. (Bjull. Sredneaz. Gosud. Univ. 21: 181, 1935), and points out that the latter was published one month earlier than the former. Kreczetovicz (in Fl. Uzbekistana 1: 349-350, 362—363, 1941), however, seems to provide good reasons to keep the species separate, e.g. the size of utricles.