Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Alberta, Nebraska and Texas.

Habitat: Moist areas, from near sea level to mid-elevations in the mountains.

Flowers: June-September

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Tufted perennial, the culms 2-12 dm. tall, usually erect, but occasionally decumbent.

Sheaths open, smooth; ligules 3-8 mm. long, obtuse and lacerate; blades flat, scabrous, 2-10 mm. broad.

Inflorescence a congested to open panicle 5-25 cm. long, the branches ascending to erect, green to purplish, scabrous throughout; spikelets 1-flowered, articulate above the glume; glumes 2.5-4.5 mm. long, pointed, often with an awn or bristle tip, the second glume somewhat shorter than the first; lemma 1.5-2.5 mm. long, always shorter than the second glume, sometimes awned from above midlength; callus slightly bearded; palea 0.2-0.5 mm. long; lodicules 2, 0.3-0.5 mm. long

Utricle