Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia south on both sides of the Cascades to northern California, east to Idaho, Montana and Utah, also in eastern North America.

Habitat: Dry prairies or rocky areas to sandy stream banks.

Flowers: May-July

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Perennial 1.5-5 dm. tall, the culms hollow, covered throughout, except for the upper surface of the leaves, with short, rounded, hair-like growths.

Sheaths open, ligules about 1.5 mm. long, mainly of straight hairs; upper blades larger than the basal, 5-15 mm. broad.

Inflorescence an open panicle 3-8 cm. long; spikelets 2-flowered, about 3.2 mm. long, with short, soft hairs, articulate below the glumes; first glume 1.5 mm. long, 1-nerved; second glume and sterile lemma rounded at the tip, 9- to 11-nerved, barely exceeding the fertile flower, the two enclosing the fertile flower; second lemma hardened and very faintly nerved, the margins overlapping the equally firm palea.

Utricle