Perennial. Culms 30–50 cm tall, 2–3-noded, pubescent below nodes. Basal leaves nearly equal to culms; leaf sheaths shorter than internodes, scabrid; leaf blades setaceous, convolute, ca. 0.5 mm in diam., outer surface strongly scabrid; ligule linear-lanceolate, 4–7(–12) mm, laterally decurrent and adnate to margins of leaf sheath. Panicle contracted, 10–15 cm, base enclosed by expanded uppermost leaf sheath. Spikelets yellowish green; glumes 4–5.5 cm, apex long acuminate-filiform; callus pungent, ca. 3 mm; lemma 12–16 mm, hairs in longitudinal lines, marginal line terminating 2.5–3.5 mm below apex, other lines shorter, apex glabrous; awn deciduous, 15–28 cm, 2-geniculate, column smooth, glossy, 3–4.5 cm to first bend, ca. 2 cm to second bend, bristle 15–20 cm, plumose, hairs 3–6 mm. Fl. and fr. Jun–Sep.

This is a member of the Stipa pennata complex, distinguished by an exceptionally long ligule. It provides good forage when young in steppe regions.

Dry steppes, rocky slopes; 800–1800 m. Xinjiang [Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan].