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

Habitat: Meadowlands, fallow fields an ditch banks.

Flowers: May-July

Origin: Introduced from Eurasia

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Strongly tufted perennial, usually with short rhizomes, the culms hollow, mostly glabrous, usually over 1 m. tall.

Sheaths open, smooth or scabrous; ligules about 0.2 mm. long; auricles prominent, the margins hairy; blades usually flat and stiff, 4-10 mm. broad.

Inflorescence a narrow panicle 15-35 cm. long, often nodding; spikelets 2- to 12-flowered, 12-15 mm. long; first glume 1-nerved, lanceolate, 4-5 mm. long, the second 3-nerved, lanceolate, 6-7 mm. long; lemmas glabrous, 7-9 mm. long, the tip acute and translucent; paleas equal to the lemmas, 2-veined.