Stems often bunched, 30-100 cm. Leaves: blades 2–5 mm wide, ligules 1–4 mm long. Inflorescence an open panicle, 10–20 cm long, branches spreading but if ascending then the tips drooping. Spikelets 2–4 mm long. Lemmas 2 to 7 florets per spikelet (Lavin in
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).