Tufted perennial; culms 20-60 cm high, erect. Leaf-blades 3-12 cm long, 3.5-9 mm wide, rounded at the base, abruptly pointed at the tip, glabrous and smooth; ligule 2-4 mm long. Panicle ovoid-oblong, 3.5-7.5 cm long, dense, the branches spiculate almost to the base. Spikelets 4.5-5.5 mm long; glumes ovate, acute, 3-5.5 mm long; male florets with lemma 3.5-5 mm long, bifid at the tip with an awn 0.5-2 mm long; lemma of fertile floret 3-4 mm long, hairy at the tip with usually appressed hairs, awnless or with an awn up to 0.5 mm long.

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

Type: Afghanistan, Wendelbo & Ekberg W9669 (GB).

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

Found only in a few mountainous regions between 2800 and 3350 m.