Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California; also in eastern North America.
Habitat: Gravelly prairies, sea bluffs and dunes near the coast, also in other disturbed, open areas at low elevations.
Flowers: April-September
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Growth Duration: Annual
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Pollination: Wind
Delicate annuals, the culms 1 to several, 3-30 cm. tall, hollow, smooth or somewhat roughened.
Sheaths open; ligules 1-3 mm. long, puberulent, the tip acute or blunt; blades scarcely 0.5 mm. broad.
Inflorescence a congested panicle, 1-3 cm. long, the branches erect; spikelets 2-flowered; glumes 3-3.5 mm. long; lemmas about 3 mm. long, both awned, the awns 2-3 mm. long, attached below mid-length, twisted and bent.
Utricle
Publication: Sp. Pl. 1: 65-66. 1753. 1753.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Aira praecox in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database
WA Flora Checklist: Aira praecox checklist entry
OregonFlora: Aira praecox information
E-Flora BC: Aira praecox atlas page
CalPhotos: Aira praecox photos
