Melica tangutorum Tzvelev

Perennial, loosely tufted. Culms 30–80 cm tall, 1–2 mm in diam., scabrid below panicle, 3–4-noded. Leaf sheaths scabrid; leaf blades flat or slightly rolled, 10–15 cm × 1–4 mm, scabrid on both surfaces; ligule 2–6.5 mm. Panicle narrow, fairly dense, 10–20 cm, slightly 1-sided, spikelets many; branches short, erect. Spikelets 4–7 mm, silvery green, fertile florets 2 or 3, terminal sterile lemmas gathered into globular cluster; glumes elliptic, papery, scabrid, lower glume 4–5 mm, 3–5-veined, upper glume 4–7 mm, 5–7-veined, both obtuse; lemmas obovate-oblong, lowest 3–4.5 mm, firmly herbaceous, 7–9-veined, granular scabrid, apex narrowly membranous, emarginate or shortly 2-lobed; palea keels ciliolate. Anthers 0.7–1 mm. Fl. and fr. May–Sep.

Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan [Mongolia].

Rocky mountain slopes, river gravel banks, or under shrubs; 1500–3200 m.