Rhizomatous perennial; culms 20-75 cm high, erect. Leaf-blades 2.5-17 cm long, 4-14 mm wide, rounded at the base, abruptly pointed at the tip, glabrous and smooth; ligule 0.75-2.5 mm long. Panicle oblong, 5-16 cm long, loose, the branches capillary and bare of spikelets in the lower half. Spikelets 5-7 mm long; glumes ovate, acute, 4-7 mm long; male florets with lemma 4.5-5.5 mm long, truncate or shallowly toothed at the tip and with an awn 0.5-3 mm long; lemma of fertile spikelets 3-4(-4.5) mm long, hairy above the middle with usually conspicuously spreading hairs, awnless or with an awn up to 2 mm long.

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

Type: India, Wallich 3796 (K).

Distribution: Pakistan (N.W.F.P. & Kashmir); western Himalayas.

A common grass of alpine meadows and rock ledges, from 3000 to 5000 m.