Stipa pekinensis Hance, J. Bot. 15: 268. 1877; Achna-therum effusum (Maximowicz) Y. L. Chang; A. extremi-orientale (H. Hara) Keng; A. pekinense subsp. effusum (Maximowicz) T. Koyama; S. extremiorientalis H. Hara; S. japonica (Hackel) Hackel; S. sibirica (Linnaeus) Lamarck var. effusa Maximowicz; S. sibirica var. japonica Hackel.

Perennial, loosely tufted, scaly buds at base. Culms erect, 60–150 cm tall, 1.8–3 mm in diam., 3–4-noded. Leaf sheaths smooth, lower longer than internodes; leaf blades linear or broadly linear, flat or margins inrolled, 20–50 cm, 4–10 mm wide, abaxial surface smooth, adaxial surface and margins scabrid, apex finely acuminate; ligule truncate, 1–1.5 mm. Panicle open, sometimes effuse, 12–40 cm; branches 2–4 per node, bare below middle. Spikelets 8–13 mm, yellowish green or purplish; glumes subequal or lower glume slightly longer, elliptic-oblong, 3-veined, smooth, glabrous, apex of lower glume acuminate, of upper glume acute or denticulate; callus obtuse, 0.3–0.5 mm; lemma narrowly lanceolate, 5–7 mm, leathery, pilose, hairs slightly longer upward, 0.6–1.2 mm at awn base, margins overlapping and enclosing palea, apex very shortly toothed; awn persistent, stiff, 2–3 cm, 1-geniculate, column twisted, minutely hispidulous, bristle scabrid. Anthers 4–6 mm, bearded at apex. Fl. and fr. Jul–Oct.

This species is often confused with Achnatherum sibiricum, and intermediates appear to be common.

Open forest, among shrubs, roadsides; 300–3600 m. Anhui, Gansu, Hebei, Heilongjiang Henan, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Yunnan [Japan, Korea, E Russia].