Tufted perennial 30-70 cm high. Leaf-blades involute and setaceous, up to 1.5 mm wide when flattened, scabrid on the lower (outer) surface; ligule (1.5-) 3-4 mm long. Panicle narrow, few-flowered, 8-14(-20) cm long, often partially enclosed by the slightly inflated sheath of the uppermost leaf. Glumes narrowly lanceolate, long-acuminate with fragile tips, 27-45 mm long, 5-nerved; lemma terete, 11-13 mm long (including callus), hairy in the lower two-thirds with rows of short hairs, glabrous at the tip; callus acuminate, pungent, c. 2.5 mm long. Awn bigeniculate, articulated at the base, 11-16(-20) cm long; column smooth and glabrous; bristle plumose with hairs 4-5 mm long.

Fl. & Fr. Per.: May-July

Type: USSR, Turkmenistan, Litvinov 2222 (LE).

Distribution: Pakistan (Baluchistan, N.W.F.P. & Kashmir); Turkmenistan to Pamir; Iran and Afghanistan.

1700-4700 m.