Elymus atratus (Nevski) Hand.-Mazz.

Culms erect or geniculate at base, somewhat slender, 40–60 cm tall. Leaf sheath smooth, glabrous; leaf blade ± rolled, 3–10(–19) × ca. 0.2 cm, both surfaces glabrous, or pubescent at base. Spikelets usually 2 per node, purplish black when mature, 8–10 mm, with 2 or 3 florets, usually 1 or 2 florets fertile. Glumes narrowly oblong or lanceolate, subequal, 2–4 mm, 1–3-veined, scabrous along midvein, apex mucronate or acuminate; lateral veins obscure. Lemma lanceolate, hirsutulous throughout; first lemma 7–8 mm; awn usually reflexed, 10–17 mm, scabrous. Palea equaling lemma, ciliolate along keels. Fl. and fr. late summer. 2n = 42*.

* Steppes. Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Xizang.

Clinelymus atratus Nevski, Bull. Jard. Bot. Acad. Sci. URSS 30: 644. 1932.