Culms densely tufted, erect or geniculate at base, 20–70 cm tall, glabrous, or pubescent just below spike. Leaf sheath glabrous or pubescent; leaf blade glaucous green, involute, 5–10 × 0.1–0.3 cm, stiff, abaxial surface smooth, glabrous, adaxial surface scabrous. Spike erect, 4–8 × 0.5–1 cm; rachis pubescent; internodes 1–2 mm. Spikelets imbricate, 5–10 × 3–5 mm, with 4–7 florets. Glumes ovate-lanceolate, glabrous, smooth but scabrous on keel; awn 1–2 mm; proximal glume (2–)3–4 mm; distal glume 4–5 mm. Lemma lanceolate, glabrous to densely pilose; awn 1–3 mm. Palea ciliate along keels, apex 2-dentate. Anthers ca. 4 mm. Fl. and fr. Jun–Aug. 2n = 28*.

Mountain slopes, frigid high pastures, dry steppes, sandy places; ca. 2700 m. Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shanxi, Xinjiang [Mongolia, Russia; introduced in North America].