UW Burke Herbarium species comparison

Sheaths open;

ligules 6-15 mm. long, irregularly jagged;

blades of the culm leaves flat, up to 12 cm. long;

blades of the sterile shoots nearly twice as long and half as wide.

Inflorescence a compact panicle 8-16 cm. long, often interrupted below;

spikelets 1-flowered;

glumes 5.5-7 mm. long;

lemma slightly shorter than the glumes, with an awn attached about mid-length, the awn twisted and bent, exceeding the glumes by about 5 mm.;

palea subequal to the lemma, the rachilla prolonged behind the palea 2-4 mm., strongly bearded;

callus very lightly bearded.