UW Burke Herbarium species comparison

Sheaths closed to about mid-length, strongly scabrous, keeled below the collar;

ligules thin, from 1 mm. long on basal leaves to 3 mm. long on upper leaves, obtuse to rounded, puberulent;

blades flat, 3-5 mm. broad, strongly scabrous on both surfaces, the tips abruptly prow-like.

Inflorescence a loose, open panicle 12-20 cm. long, the 2 or 3 branches at each of the distant nodes spreading to reflexed;

spikelets loosely 3- to 4-flowered, the florets perfect;

glumes 3-nerved, keeled, narrow, the first 3 mm. long, the second 3.5 mm. long;

lemmas about 4 mm. long, 5-nerved., strongly webbed at the base and silky-pubescent on the keel and marginal nerves;

palea subequal to the lemma, 2-keeled.