Bunchgrass. Stems 1–2 m, often glaucous, sometimes with short rhizomes. Leaves: blades 5–10 mm wide, ligule 1–2.5 mm long with a fringe of hairs. Inflorescence 4–16 cm long, internodes 3–6 mm long, whitish hairy at nodes and along margins of internodes, the hairs to 3 mm long. Spikelets: sessile and pedicellate spikelets 6–11 mm long; glumes mostly purplish, acute. Lemmas: fertile lemma 4–6 mm long, awn (6)10–18 mm long, bent (Lavin in
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).