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

Habitat: Weed of gardens, irrigated areas and wasteland.

Flowers: July-September

Origin: Introduced from Europe

Growth Duration: Annual

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Annual, the culms 3-10 dm. tall, hollow, ascending to erect, usually freely branched from the base.

Sheaths open, pubescent at the throat; ligules about 1.5 mm. long, the outer half a fringe; blades flat, 4-10 mm. broad, scabrous-margined.

Inflorescence a cylindric, congested, erect panicle 5-10 cm. long; spikelets articulate below the glumes, sub-terete, 2-flowered, each subtended by a bristle 4-7 mm. long, retrorsely finely barbed; spikelets 2-2.5 mm. long; first glume 3-veined, half as along as the second; second glume 5-nerved, about equal to the lemma; lower flower sterile, the lemma acute, the narrow palea about half its length; upper flower perfect, the lemma leathery, enclosing the palea; anthers dark purple.