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

Habitat: Roadsides, fields, ditches, meadows, parks, and other disturbed open areas; often planted for hay and soil stabilization.

Flowers: June-August

Origin: Introduced from Eurasia

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Strongly rhizomatous perennial, the culms 2-12 dm. tall.

Sheaths closed, glabrous or pubescent; auricles usually present, 1 mm. long; ligules 0.5-2.5 mm. long; blades flat, 3-10 mm. broad.

Inflorescence a narrow panicle 7-20 cm. long, the branches ascending; spikelets narrow, tapered from near the base, 5- to 13-flowered, 1.5-3 cm. long, purplish-tinged; glumes with a transparent margin, the first 1-nerved, 4-6 mm. long, the second 3-nerved, 6-10 mm. long; lemmas rounded on the back, obtuse, usually unawned; anthers 3, exerted.