Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades in Washington; Alaska to California, east across North America to the Atlantic Coast.

Habitat: Moist soil, especially where alkaline.

Flowers: June-August

Origin: Introduced from Eurasia

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Tufted perennial, the culms 1-4 dm. tall, hollow, glabrous to slightly rough.

Sheaths open; ligules 1 mm. long, entire, obtuse; blades flat, 1.5-3.5 mm. broad.

Inflorescence an open panicle 5-15 cm. long, the branches spreading to reflexed; spikelets 5- to 6-flowered; glumes ovate, the first 1 mm. long, the second about 1.5 mm. long; lemmas broadly ovate, 1.6-1.8 mm. long, rounded on the back, with 5 non-converging nerves, sparsely hairy near the base; palea usually slightly exceeding the lemma.