Distribution: Montana east to Maine, south to most of the United States, barely reaching the Pacific Northwest

Habitat: Plains to lower mountains, often on scablands or rocky slopes.

Flowers: July - August

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Rhizomatous perennials forming open patches, the culms 4-8 dm. tall, solid, erect.

Open sheaths with collars, the throat with blisters and hairs 3-4 mm. long; ligules a fringe of straight hairs; blades flat, becoming involute when dry, 2.5-4 mm. broad, the veins unequal.

Inflorescence of 30-80 short, purplish, racemose spikes 10-15 mm. long, 5- to 8-flowered, articulated at the base; spikelets sessile in 2 rows on one side of the rachis, with a single perfect flower below 1 greatly reduced sterile flower; articulation above the glumes; glumes 3.5 and 5.5 mm. long; fertile lemma 5 mm. long, the 3 nerves barely prolonged into awn tips.

Utricle