Densely tufted perennial; culms 30-60(-100) cm high. Leaf-blades flat or rolled, up to 30 cm long, 1-4 mm wide, minutely pubescent on the upper (inner) surface, glabrous beneath. Panicle lax, 7-25(-30) cm long, the branches ascending or spreading, the longest about half the length of the panicle. Spikelets lanceolate, 5-8 mm long; lemma elliptic, 2.5-3.3 mm long, obtuse at the tip, glabrous except sometimes for two basal tufts of hair; awn 2-5.5 mm long, shortly exserted from the glumes, terminal, deciduous; anthers 1.5-1.7 mm long, their tips bearded.

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

Type: USSR, Central Asia, Tuturin & Besedin 81 (LE).

Distribution: Pakistan (Baluchistan, N.W.F.P. & Gilgit); Iran, Afghanistan and southern USSR.

Very similar to and often confused with Piptatherum caerulescens (Desf.) P. Beauv. which, however, has longer lemmas and is confined to the Mediterranean region. Piptatherum vicarium occurs in deciduous woodland and open vegetation between 500 and 2800 m. It is also recorded, unlocalised, from Swat district.