Stems loosely bunched, 40–100 cm. Leaves: blades mostly 5–9 mm wide. Inflorescence a loosely contracted to open panicle 10–25 cm long, the lower branches with clusters of spikelets distinctly set off from rest of inflorescence. Spikelets 7–9 mm long. Lemmas 2 to 4 per spikelet, awns 7–13 mm long, bent, from upper one-half of lemma (Lavin in
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).