Tufted, shortly rhizomatous perennial 30-90 cm high. Leaf-blades involute and setaceous, up to 2 mm wide when flattened, glabrous on the lower (outer) surface; ligule 0.2-0.4 mm long. Panicle narrow, 6-16(-24) cm long, the branches ascending, few-spiculate. Glumes subequal, 5-7(-8) mm long, elliptic-lanceolate, acute, 3-nerved; lemma narrowly elliptic, 4.2-5 mm long (including callus), pilose with long white hairs, shortly 2-toothed at the tip; callus conical, blunt, 0.3-0.4 mm long. Awn bigeniculate, indistinctly articulated at the base, scaberulous throughout.

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

Type: Kashmir, Jacquemont (P).

Distribution: Pakistan (Baluchistan, Punjab, N.W.F P. & Kashmir); Tibet and the Northwest Himalayas westwards to the Kurram Valley.

A characteristic species of arid soils often found growing in rock crevices. 2000-4600 m.