Perennial bunchgrass. Stems 10–20 cm. Leaves: blades ca. 1 mm wide, inrolled. Inflorescence a narrow panicle 1–3 cm long, the peduncle hairy and usually pigmented with a dark purplish color. Spikelets 4–7 mm long with 3 to 4 florets. Lemmas with an awn tip or awn up to 2.5 mm long (Lavin in
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).