Stipa penicillata Hand.-Mazz.

Perennial, tufted. Culms 25–70 cm tall, 1–2-noded. Basal leaves reaching to panicle; leaf sheaths scabrid to white-hirsute; leaf blades setaceous, convolute, basal blades up to 30 cm, outer surface densely scabrid with some longer spinules or hirsute; ligule lanceolate, 3–7 mm, acute. Panicle open, 15–25 cm, exserted from uppermost leaf sheath; branches with axillary cushions, capillary, flexuous, with 2–4 spikelets. Spikelets green or flushed purplish; glumes subequal or lower slightly longer, lanceolate-oblong, 0.8–1 cm, apex acuminate into a fine point; callus pungent, ca. 1 mm; lemma 5–8 mm, pilose; awn ca. 2 cm, deciduous, 1–2-geniculate, column plumose, hairs 3–4 mm, 0.3–0.7 cm to first bend, 0.4–0.5 cm to second bend, this sometimes obscure, bristle 0.7–1.8 cm, scabrid. Fl. and fr. Jun–Sep.

Gansu, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Xizang.

* Mountain slopes, sand and gravel of river and lake valleys; 1400–5200 m.