Tufted perennial; culms simple, erect, slender, 9-50 cm high. Leaf-blades filiform, convolute, 5-15 cm long. Spikes 3-17 cm long, straight or somewhat curved. Spikelets 2-5(-8)-flowered, 3.5-7.5 mm long; lower glume 1-nerved, narrow, 1.5-2.5(3) mm long; upper glume 1-nerved, lanceolate, (2.2)2.6-4.5 mm long; lowest lemma (2.0-)2.4-3.6(-4.0) mm long, truncate and 2-toothed at the apex with a minute awn from between the teeth, the lateral nerves sometimes minutely excurrent; callus bearded in front.

Fl. & Fr. Per.: April-September.

Type: India, J.F. Duthie 23532 (K).

Distribution: Pakistan (Sind, Baluchistan, Punjab, N.W.F.P. & Kashmir); North-west India and Oman.

Taller specimens of this species with more florets in each spikelet and longer glumes and lemmas were separated by Bor as Tripogon hookeranus, but after a close study of the material at Kew and Rawalpindi no good reason for maintaining such a distinction was found. Tripogon purpurascens is a species of dry, arid habitats where it often forms thick swards.