Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington along the coast; British Columbia to California.

Habitat: Coastal sand dunes.

Flowers: May-June

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Strongly rhizomatous, dioecious perennial, mostly glabrous, the culms 10-35 cm. tall with a decumbent base.

Leaves basally tufted, the sheaths open for over half their length, the blades involute, reaching to the panicles, scarcely 2 mm. broad, the tips only slightly prow-like; ligules membranous, acute, 0.8-2 mm. long, entire, pubescent.

Inflorescence a compact panicle, 1.5-3.5 cm. long, the branches erect, tawny to purplish; spikelets 3-4 flowers, the rachilla usually with a terminal rudiment; glumes 3-nerved, about equal in width, the first 2.5-3 mm. long, the second 3-4 mm. long; lemmas strongly keeled, faintly 5-nerved, glabrous, unawned.

Utricle