Home
Densely colonial by rhizomes, 6–20 dm; lvs 4–20 mm wide; ligules 4–12 mm; infl dense, elongate, to 35 cm, at maturity silky from the protruding callus-hairs; glumes lance-subulate, 4–5(–8) mm; lemma membranous, 2–2.5(–3.5) mm, the slender awn inserted variously from near the base to above the middle; callus-hairs copious, much exceeding the lemma and nearly equaling the glumes; rachilla not prolonged; 2n=28, 42, 56, 70. Native of Eurasia, intr. in sandy woods, salt-marshes, fields, and waste places from Mass. to N.J. and Pa., and casually w. to s. Ont., Mich., N.D., and Kans.
Tufted, erect perennial, 0.6-1.2 m high; rhizomes creeping. Leaf blade up to 450 x 10 mm; ligule an unfringed membrane, sometimes erose. Inflorescence a narrow, contracted, dense panicle, up to 250 mm long, green or tinged with purple, becoming light brown. Spikelet 5.5-8.0 mm long, laterally compressed, disarticulating above glumes; glumes ± equal, longer than spikelet. Floret 1, bisexual; lemma glabrous, awned from back well below apex, awn 3-4 mm long, fine and straight; callus with conspicuous, long, white hairs that are longer than lemma. Flowering time Jan.-May.
