Annual bunchgrass. Stems 30–80 cm. Inflorescence a dense ovoid panicle 2–5 cm long, 1.5–2 cm wide. Spikelets 7–9 mm long. Lemmas with one lightly hairy seed-bearing floret subtended by two hairless sterile florets or scales (Lavin in
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).
An ephemeral that sporadically germinates from seed that falls from bird feeders and such, sometimes in lawns (Lavin in
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).