Tufted perennial 8-22(-35) cm high. Leaf-blades involute and setaceous, up to 0.8 mm wide when flattened, glabrous on the lower (outer) surface; ligule 1.5-2 mm long. Panicle narrow, contracted but not dense, 2.5-5 cm long, the branches and pedicels short and rather firm, erect. Glumes ± equal, 4.5-6.5 mm long, elliptic, acute or subacute, the lower 1(-sub-3)-nerved, the upper 3-nerved, purple except on the margins; lemma narrowly elliptic, 3.5-5 mm long (including callus), pilose in the lower part only, 2-toothed at the tip, the teeth 0.3-0.5 mm long; callus conical, blunt, 0.4 mm long. Awn flexuous and unigeniculate, not articulated at the base, 10-15 mm long, plumose throughout with hairs 0.75-1 mm long.

Fl. Per.: August.

Type: Tibet, J.D. Hooker (K).

Distribution: Kashmir; Himalayas, Tibet and southern USSR.

A high alpine species found between 4000 and 5300 m.