Tufted perennial 20-45 cm high. Leaf-blades involute and setaceous, up to 1 mm wide when flattened, smooth or scabrid on the lower (outer) surface; ligule 2-4 mm long. Panicle contracted, 5-10 cm long, partially enclosed by the slightly inflated sheath of the uppermost leaf. Glumes narrowly lanceolate, long-acuminate, 20-30 mm long, the lower 3-nerved, the upper 5-nerved; lemma terete, 8-11.5 mm long (including callus), loosely hairy all over and with a crown of hairs 1-2 mm long at the tip; callus acuminate, pungent, 1.5-2 mm long. Awn bigeniculate, articulated at the base, 10-16 cm long, column plumose with hairs 2-3 mm long; bristle plumose with hairs 4-5 mm long.

Fl. & Fr. Per. June-August.

Type: Gilgit, Giles 417 (K).

Distribution: Gilgit & Kashmir; Tibet.

2700-4000m.