Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest; Alaska to California, east to the Atlantic Coast.

Habitat: Old fields, roadsides, and waste places.

Flowers: May-July

Origin: Introduced from Europe

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Glabrous, tufted perennial, the hollow culms 3-8 dm. tall, usually with several basal, short, leafy stems.

Sheaths open; auricles developed on most leaves; ligules entire, 0.5-1.5 mm. long; blades 3-4 mm. broad, flat to folded.

Inflorescence a single terminal spike 7-25 cm. long, the spikelets on opposite sides of the continuous rachis to which they are attached edgewise; spikelets 6- to 10-flowered, crowded and spreading to distant and erect; glume 7-10 mm. long, pointed, usually exceeding the lower lemma, the glume next to the rachis lacking except on the terminal floret; lemmas acute, unawned, 5-nerved; paleas subequal to the lemmas, firm, 2-nerved.