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

Habitat: Dry, open areas where distiurbed; frequently planted for soil stabilization and forage.

Flowers: June-August

Origin: Introduced from Eurasia

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Tufted perennial without rhizomes, 5-10 dm. tall.

Sheaths open, mostly glabrous; ligules 1 mm. long; blades flat, usually pubescent on the lower surface, 2-5 mm. broad.

Inflorescence a dense spike 3-9 cm. long, the rachis pubescent; spikelets sessile and solitary, several times longer than the internodes, spreading-ascending, 7-12 mm. long, mostly 5- to 7-flowered; glumes and lemmas with awns 2-4 mm. long.

Utricle