Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, southern Great Plains, and in eastern North America.

Habitat: Grassy balds, prairies, roadsides, wastelots, and other disturbed open areas at low to moderate elevations.

Flowers: April-June

Origin: Introduced from Europe

Growth Duration: Annual

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Annual, the culms 4-8 dm. tall, usually glabrous.

Leaf blades flat, 3-10 mm. wide; sheaths with soft, spreading hairs; ligules lacerate, 3-5 mm. long; auricles lacking.

Inflorescence a spreading to erect panicle 10-15 cm. long, the branches elongate, bearing only 1-2 spikelets; spikelets 5- to 7-flowered, 2.5-4 cm. long, broadest above mid-length; glumes glabrous, narrowly lanceolate, the first 1-nerved, 15-20 mm. long, the second 3-nerved, 25-33 mm. long; lemmas 25-30 mm. long, puberulent, the 2 teeth slender, 3-4 mm. long, the awn attached between the teeth 3.5-6 cm. long, straight; stamens 3.