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, ± 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.)
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