Densely tufted green or sometimes glaucous perennial with short thick rhizome; culms (15-) 25-50cm high, erect. Leaf-blades flat when young, often becoming convolute and ± filiform, 4-10 cm long, 1-1.5 mm wide, scabrid on the margins; ligule lacerate, 1.5-2.5mm long. Panicle narrow, 4-9 cm long, dense to ± loose; branches usually paired, ascending, flexuous, scabrid. Spikelets 3-4-flowered, broadly wedge-shaped, 4-6.5mm long, tinged with purple; glumes unequal, 3-nerved, the lower oblong to elliptic, 3-3.8mm long, the upper broader, 3.2-4.5 mm long; lemmas oblong or elliptic in side-view, (2.8-)3-4.5 mm long, obtuse or subacute, ciliate on the keel and marginal nerves, with very sparse wool at the base; plea shorter than the lemma, scabrid along the keels; anthers 1.5-2mm long.

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

Type: Turkey, Radde..

Distribution: Pakistan (Baluchistan, N.W.F.P., Gilgit & Kashmir); Middle East from Turkey to Turkmenistan.

Very similar to Poa sterilis, but has a short, thick rhizome and the uppermost node is near the base of the cam. It is also rather similar to Poa attenuata, but has longer spikelets and lemmas. 3000-5000 m.