Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Alberta, Montana and Colorado.

Habitat: Usually in moist, loamy soil in meadows and open parks in mountain forests, but also dry to wet meadowlands and open forests to subalpine ridges.

Flowers: May-July

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Rhizomatous perennial, the culms bulbous-based and spaced 1-3 cm. apart on the rhizome.

Sheaths closed, often open for up to 10 mm; ligules collar-like, 1-3 mm. long, glabrous, lacerate; blades mostly flat, glabrous to pubescent.

Inflorescence a narrow panicle 7-15 cm. long, the branches erect; spikelets 9-15 mm. long, purplish, 3- to 8-flowered; rachilla joints 1.5-2 mm. long; first glume about 5 mm. long, 3-nerved, the second 6-7 mm. long, 5-nerved; lemmas 7- to 11-nerved, 6-8 mm. long, broad, blunt; paleas 2/3 as long as the lemmas; spikelets with 2-several perfect flowers, but the upper 2-4 flowers sterile, forming a spindle-like body about 2.5 mm. long.