Perennial bunchgrass. Stems 40–100 cm. Leaves: blades 1 mm wide, smooth to slightly scabrous. Inflorescence an open, often drooping panicle 5–12 cm long. Spikelets 6–9 mm long, with 3 to 5 florets. Lemmas with a slender, flexuous awn 4–12 mm long (Lavin in
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).
Moist soils of forest understory, along streams, lakes; valleys to subalpine (Lavin in
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).