Stems 20–60 cm tall, erect to widely spreading. Leaves: blades mostly 5–9 mm wide, scabrous, ligules 0.5–1 mm long. Inflorescence a raceme or narrow panicle 3–11 cm long. Spikelets 6–8 mm long. Lemmas sparsely hairy, with a deciduous awn 6–12 mm long. Dry meadows and open understory (Lavin in
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).