Perennial 2–6(–9) dm, at first erect and clustered, but the weak, slender culms later sprawling and rooting at the lower nodes; internodes glabrous; lvs glabrous except around the orifice of the sheath and base of the blade; sheaths usually shorter than the internodes; ligule minute, ciliolate, only 0.1–0.2 mm; blades 2–8 cm × 1–4 mm; infls very slender, usually on peduncles exsert 1–10 cm, 2–10 cm × 1.5–3(–6) mm, the branches appressed; glumes minute and veinless, membranous, the second 0.1–0.3 mm, the first even shorter or virtually obsolete; lemma 1.5–2 mm, slightly bearded on the callus; awn 1.5–4 mm; anthers 0.1–0.4 mm; 2n=40. Disturbed, moist or wet places, often a weed in lawns and gardens; N.H. and Mass. to Minn. and Nebr., s. to Fla. and Mex. (M. palustris) Hybridizes with several other spp., possibly nos. 3 [Muhlenbergia tenuiflora (Willd.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb.] , 6 [Muhlenbergia frondosa (Poir.) Fernald], and 7 [Muhlenbergia bushii R. W. Pohl], producing plants with slightly larger glumes (these sometimes with 1 or 2 veins), with or without short rhizomes. These are sometimes collectively called M. ×curtisetosa (Scribn.) Bush.
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