Tufted wiry perennial, 10-50 cm high. Leaf-blades involute, rarely flat and then up to 4 mm wide, 3-18 cm long. Inflorescence a contracted panicle up to 18 cm long. Spikelets 3- rarely 4-flowered; glumes sparsely hairy, the lower 5.5-10 mm long, 6-8-nerved, the upper 7-11.5 mm long, 6-8-nerved; fertile lemma, including awns, 10-13 mm long; uppermost floret 5-10 mm long; anthers 0.5-1.4 mm long.

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

Type: Iran, Aucher-Eloy 5430 (K, P).

Distribution: Pakistan (Sind, Baluchistan, Punjab, N.W.F.P., Gilgit & Kashmir); Egypt and Arabia northwards to Turkmenistan and eastwards to India.

Enneapogon persicus has noticeably larger spikelets than Enneapogon schimperanus, but the two species merge almost completely and the only reasonably clear division between them lies in the length of the fertile floret. Enneapogon schimperanus is predominantly an African species, whereas Enneapogon persicus is Asian, but the species are sympatric in Egypt, Arabia and Pakistan. It is thus arguable whether Enneapogon schimperanus should not be reduced to the rank of subspecies, but for the time being both species are retained.

Enneapogon persicus is a desert species, noted as a useful pasture and fodder plant in parts of Iraq.