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

Habitat: Swampy areas in meadows, in irrigated fields, and along roadsides.

Flowers: June-July

Origin: Introduced from Europe

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Stout, herbaceous perennial 30-90 cm. tall; often grows in clumps due to stolons that develop when the lower nodes of the culms (aerial stems) take root in the soil.

3-10 cm. long, and 3-10 mm. wide; rough to the touch when rubbed (scabrous).

In terminal, narrowly columnar panicles 3-10 cm. long that taper slightly at both ends. Spikelets with one floret. Glumes and lemmas both about 5 mm. long; lemma with bent awn that attaches just above lemma base.

Caryopsis

Attachment of bent awn to base of lemma distinguishes A. pratensis from A. aequalis, another introduced species of this genus that grows in wet ares.