Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains and northern Great Plains.

Habitat: Open slopes to thick, dry or moist woods, from near sea level to middle elevations in the mountains.

Flowers: May-July

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Tufted perennial, the culms 3-8 dm. tall, bulbous-based and clustered on short, thick rhizomes.

Sheaths closed nearly to the top, usually spreading-pubescent; ligules 1-5 mm. long, glabrous, often closed but usually split, somewhat lacerate; blades usually flat, 2-7 mm. broad.

Inflorescence a narrow panicle 10-20 cm. long, the few branches ascending to erect; spikelets loosely 2- to 5-flowered, 12-20 mm. long; rachilla joints 2.5-3 mm. long; glumes pointed, the first 5-6.5 mm. long, the second 7.5-9 mm. long; lemmas acuminate but unawned, 9-13 mm. long; paleas at least 2/3 as long as the lemmas; spikelets with 2-several perfect flowers, but the upper 2-4 flowers sterile, forming a spindle-like body about 5-8 mm. long.