Shortly rhizomatous perennial; culms 8-28 cm high, erect or ascending. Leaf-blades flat or folded, 2-12 cm long, 1-2 mm wide; ligule 1.2-3mm long. Panicle contracted, spike-like, 2-7.5 cm long. Spikelets 3-4.2 mm long, golden-yellow or sometimes tinged with purple, the rhachilla not prolonged beyond the floret; glumes unequal, 1-nerved, a little shorter than the lemma, the lower elliptic, 2.5-3mm long, the upper lanceolate-elliptic, 2.7-3.5 mm long; lemma as long as the spikelet, appressedly pubescent, denticulately obtuse; anthers 2-3 mm long, deep violet.

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

Type: Pamir, Alexeenko 2120 (LE).

Distribution: Gilgit & Kashmir; Afghanistan and Pamir.

An attractive grass of high mountains, with deep violet anthers contrasting with golden-yellow spikelets. 4300-5500 m.