Stipa splendens Trinius, Neue Entdeck. Pflanzenk. 2: 54. 1821; S. altaica Trinius; S. schlagintweitii Mez; Lasiagrostis splendens (Trinius) Kunth; Stipa kokonorica K. S. Hao.

Perennial, forming large dense tussocks; roots thick, tough, coated with sand; old basal sheaths fibrous. Culms stiff, erect, 0.5–2.5 m tall, 3–5 mm in diam., 2–3-noded. Leaf sheaths glabrous; leaf blades convolute, tough, 30–60 cm, 5–6 mm wide, abaxial surface smooth; ligule triangular, 5–10(–17) mm, acute. Panicle pyramidal, (15–)30–60 cm; branches 2–6 per node, ascending or spreading, 8–17 cm, lower part bare. Spikelets 4.5–7 mm, gray-green with purple-brown base; glumes unequal, elliptic, lower glume 4–5 mm, 1-veined, upper glume 6–7 mm, 3-veined, scabrid, apex acute or denticulate; callus obtuse, 0.3–0.6 mm; lemma 4.8–5.7 mm, scaberulous-puberulous, also evenly pilose with longer hairs, apex 2-toothed; awn 0.5–1.2 cm, caducous, straight or slightly curving and indistinctly twisted below, scabrid. Anthers 2.5–3.5 mm, bearded at apex. Fl. and fr. Jun–Sep.

This species tolerates high levels of salinity and is used for improving saline and alkaline land. It is also a good forage grass and a source of fiber.

Dry mountain slopes, grassy places on slightly alkaline, sandy soil; 900–4500 m. Gansu, Heilongjiang, Henan, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shanxi, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Xizang, Yunnan [Afghanistan, N India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenstan, Uzbekistan].