Perennial bunchgrass with well-developed rhizomes. Stems 60–150 cm. Leaves: blades 2–10 mm wide; sheath essentially hairless; ligule a fringed membrane 3–5 mm long. Inflorescence an open panicle 12–40 cm long. Spikelets 3.5–4 mm long, first glume 3–3.5 mm long, second glume 3.5–4.5 mm long, distally keeled. Lemmas: sterile lemma distally keeled, fertile lemma blunt, light greenish at maturity (Lavin in
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).
From disturbance-prone settings especially roadsides and similar sites (Lavin in
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).