Culms erect or geniculate below, 3-6 dm, forming large tufts, minutely puberulent; sheaths shorter than the internodes, papillose-hirsute with spreading hairs; ligule a short, ciliate membrane, or nearly obsolete; blades erect or ascending, the larger ones 7-11 cm × 7-12 mm, slightly tapering to a broadly rounded base, papillose-hirsute on both sides, varying to subglabrous above, Ā±papillose-ciliate; primary panicle at first included, tardily becoming long-exsert, 5-10 cm, ovoid or oblong with few-fld ascending branches; spikelets papillose-hirsute with hairs 0.5-1+ mm, oblong-obovoid, 3-4 mm; first glume three-fifths as long, triangular-ovate, acute; second glume and sterile lemma subequal, slightly longer than the fr; sterile lemma normally staminate; autumnal phase bearing a few simple branches from the middle and lower nodes, the blades scarcely reduced, the uppermost barely exceeding the small but evidently chasmogamous panicles; 2n=18. Dry prairies and open places; O. and Mich. to Man., S.D., and Kans.; c. N.Y. and Pa. (Dichanthelium l.)
Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.
