Greyish tufted perennial; culms 25-40 cm high, erect or geniculately ascending, sometimes rooting from the lower nodes, Leaf-blades flat, 4-10cm long, 2-4 mm wide, ± flaccid, abruptly tapering to a short stiff point, scabrid on the margins and both surfaces; ligule lacerate, up to 1 mm long. Panicle lanceolate to ovate, 7-10cm long, contracted at first, then spreading; branches paired, ascending at first, spreading almost at right angles after anthesis, smooth. Spikelets 4-5-flowered, ovate-elliptic, 4.5-5.5mm long, green or pallid; glumes unequal, the lower narrowly lanceolate, subulate in side view, 2.5-3 mm long, 1-nerved, the upper broader, 3-3.5 mm long, 3-nerved; lemmas oblong in side-view, 3-3.75 mm long, obtuse, glabrous or shortly ciliate on the keel and marginal nerves, the hairs crispate, with very scant wool at the base; palea shorter than the lemma, scabrid along the keels; anthers 1.8-2.5 mm long.

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

Type: Afghanistan, Aitchison 405, 497(K).

Distribution: Pakistan (N.W.F.P.); Iran and Afghanistan.

2700-3800.