Loosely tufted rhizomatous perennial; culms up to 65cm high, erect or geniculately ascending, slender. Leaf-blades flat on fertile culms, folded on the sterile, up to 25cm long, 1-3mm wide, smooth on the lower surface, green, the sclerenchyma in up to 11 separate, ± equal strands, 1 on the keel, 1 along each margin and 1 below each of the lateral nerves; ligule a narrow rim c.0.5mm long. Panicle narrowly lanceolate, 8-17 cm long, very lax, the branches ascending, flexuous, smooth or shortly ciliate. Spikelets 3-5(-6)-flowered, 9-11 mm long, (excluding the awns); lower glume 2.5-3.5 mm long, 1-nerved; upper glume 4.5-5.5 mm long, 3-nerved; lemmas narrowly oblong-elliptic in side-view, 5.5-6.5mm long, with an awn (2-)4-6(-7)mm long; palea scabrid along the keels; anthers 1.7-2.2mm long; ovary densely hairy at the tip.

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

Type: Kashmir, Duthie 13139 (K, W).

Distribution: Kashmir, endemic.

2700-4000m.