Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Idaho and Nevada.

Habitat: Disturbed, often alkaline soil.

Flowers: April-June

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Annual

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Glabrous to hairy annual, the culms 1-4 dm. tall.

Sheaths open; auricles lacking; ligules 0.2-0.6 mm. long; blades pubescent, 2-4 mm. broad.

Inflorescence a terminal spike, usually erect, 3-6 cm. long, sometimes partly concealed by the upper leaf sheath; spikelets 3 per node, 1-flowered, the central spikelet sessile, its lemma with an awn up to 10 mm. long; lateral spikelets with short, straight pedicles 1 mm. long, the floret rudimentary, awnless, borne on a curved rachilla about 1 mm. long; glumes all slender and awn-like, 8-15 mm. long, only 0.6 mm. broad at the widest point.