Perennial, tufted, rhizomatous; rhizomes spreading. Culms erect, 45–150 cm tall, 2–3 mm in diam., 4–7-noded, smooth or scabrid below panicle. Leaf sheaths smooth or scabrid; leaf blades flat or weakly inrolled, 15–30 cm, 4–8(–13) mm wide, adaxial surface and margins scabrid, abaxial surface smooth, apex finely acuminate; ligule 5–9 mm, oblong, lacerate. Panicle densely contracted, linear to lanceolate in outline, spikelike or interrupted, erect, 10–30 × 1.5–4 cm; branches erect or ascending, scabrid. Spikelets (4–)5–7 mm, silvery green or tinged light purple; glumes equal or upper glume slightly shorter, linear-lanceolate, scaberulous, keel scabrid, apex acuminate; callus hairs ca. 2 times length of lemma; lemma ca. 1/2 length of glumes, 3-veined, smooth, apex shortly 2-toothed; awn arising near middle of lemma back, (1.5–)2–3 mm, straight, scarcely projecting from glumes; palea ca. 2/3 length of lemma; rachilla extension absent or rarely present, glabrous. Stamens 3, anthers ca. 1.5 mm. Fl. and fr. May–Sep.

This is a polymorphic, polyploid complex, in which some forms have been given separate infraspecific names. However, intermediates are common and such names are of very limited use.

This species provides forage and has soil-holding qualities.

Damp places, especially riversides; 100–3900 m. Common in China [Japan, Kashmir, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan; SW Asia, Europe].