Pentameris alticola (H.P.Linder) Galley & H.P.Linder

Cushion-forming biennial or weakly perennial 100-300 mm high; basal sheaths brown and soon rotting away; leaves basal; culms weakly geniculate; glands absent. Leaf blade 30-80 x 0.2-0.5 mm, rolled, curly, glabrous or hairy; margins smooth; sheath mouth with a ring of bristles. Inflorescence open, 15-30 x 10-20 mm, with 2-20 spikelets; pedicels glabrous or scaberulous; axils hairy. Spikelet 4-6 mm long; glumes acute to acuminate, purplish-brown, glabrous; lemma 2.5-3.0 mm long, hairy basally or along margins; lateral awns 1.5-3.0 mm long; central awn 7-10 mm long; palea glabrous; anthers 2 mm long.