Calamagrostis varia P. Beauvois var. macilenta Grisebach in Ledebour, Fl. Ross. 4: 427. 1852; C. macilenta (Grisebach) Litvinov.

Perennial, shortly rhizomatous, mat-forming. Culms erect, 15–60 cm tall, ca. 1.5 mm in diam., usually 3-noded. Leaf sheaths smooth, usually purplish at base; leaf blades flat or involute, stiff, 5–15 cm, 2–4(–7) mm wide, adaxial surface very scabrid; ligule 1.5–3 mm, triangular or irregularly dentate. Panicle narrowly spikelike, dense, 6–9 × 0.8–1.5 cm; branches short, fascicled, scabrid. Spikelets 4–5 mm, usually yellowish green or pinkish; glumes lanceolate, subequal, scabrid, lower glume 1-veined, upper glume 3-veined, apex acute; callus hairs 1/2 length of lemma; lemma 3–4 mm, upper part scabrid, apex obtuse or denticulate; awn sub-basal, about as long as lemma, 2.5–3 mm, weakly geniculate; palea slightly shorter than lemma; rachilla 1.5–2.2 mm, including hairs 3.5–4 mm. Anthers 2–2.2 mm. Fl. summer.

Meadows, damp sand-pebble ground; 2700–3400 m. Nei Mongol, Qinghai, Xinjiang [Mongolia, E Russia].