Bunchgrass bearing extensive rhizomes. Stems 1–2 m, often glaucous. Leaves: blades 3–10 mm wide, ligule 2–4.5 mm long with a fringe of hairs. Inflorescence 5–7 cm long, internodes 4–6 mm, densely whitish hairy at nodes and along margins of internodes, the hairs 3–5 mm long. Spikelets: sessile and pedicellate spikelets 7–10 mm long; glumes mostly yellowish, acute. Lemmas: fertile lemma 4–5 mm long, awn 4–7 mm long, straight (Lavin in
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).