Psathyrostachys consists of several cespitose species that usually have 3 spikelets per node (sometimes only 2) and subulate glumes. The rachises are usually described as fragile, disarticulating, or breaking up at maturity but those of P. juncea, the only species with which I am familiar, do so very tardily. The following table is based on Baden (1991) with some additions from the draft treatment for the Flora of China . The species have the Ns genome. Comments can be sent to Mary Barkworth.
| Psathyrostachys caduca (Boiss.) Melderis | Afghanistan | |||
| Psathyrostachys fragilis (Boiss.) Nevski | ||||
| Psathyrostachys fragilis (Boiss.) Nevski subsp. fragilis | Iran | 14 | ||
| Psathyrostachys fragilis subsp. secaliformis Tzvelev | Caucasus, Iran, Iraq, Turkey | |||
| Psathyrostachys fragilis subsp. villosus C. Baden | Turkey | |||
| Psathyrostachys huashanica Keng ex Kuo | China (Shaanxi) | 14 | ||
| Psathyrostachys juncea (Fischer) Nevski | Afghanistan, Russia, C. Asia, China | 14 | ||
| Psathyrostachys juncea (Fischer) Nevski var. juncea | China( Gansu, Nei Mongol, Xinjian), C. Asia, Russia; Introduced: U.S.A | Flora of China recognizes two varieties; Baden did not. | ||
| Psathyrostachys juncea var. hyalantha (Rupr.) S.L. Chen | China (Xinjiang), C. Asia, Russia | |||
| Psathyrostachys kronenburgii (Hack.) Nevski | China (Xinjiang), Kazakhistan, Kyrgistan, Tadzhikistan, C. Asia | |||
| Psathyrostachys lanuginosa (Trin.) Nevski | Afghanistan, China (Xinjiang), Kazakhstan, Kyrgistan, C. Asia, W. Siberia | 14, 28 | ||
| Psathryostachys rupestris (Alex.) Nevski | ||||
| Psathryostachys rupestris (Alex.) Nevski subsp. ruprestris | Dagestan | 14 | ||
| Psathryostachys rupestris subsp. daghestanica (Alex.) A. Love | Dagestan | 14 | ||
| Psathyrostachys stoloniformis C. Baden | China (Gansu, Qinghai) | 14 | ||