Kengyilia melanthera (Keng & S. L. Chen) J. L. Yang, C. Yen & B. R. Baum

Plants with underground rhizome. Culms laxly tufted, erect, lucid, 15–60 cm tall, 2- or 3-noded. Leaf blade 2.5–8 (–12) × 0.2–0.4 cm. Spike erect or curved, 4–7 × 1–1.5 cm. Spikelets crowded, 10–14 mm, with 3–5 florets. Glumes oblong-lanceolate, 3–5-veined, glabrous, puberulent, or densely pubescent; proximal glume 4–6 mm; distal glume 5–7 mm. Lemma densely pubescent, apex awnless, pointed, or with awn 2–4 mm; first lemma ca. 8 mm. Palea slightly shorter than or equaling lemma, puberulent abaxially, ciliate along keels, apex retuse or truncate. Anthers black. Fl. and fr. late summer. 2n = 42*.

* Mountain slopes, sandy grassy slopes, lake and river banks. Qinghai.