Description
Key Characters:
Growth Form:
Stout annuals.
Stems:
Culms (stems) (2.5–)4–8(–12.5) dm tall.
Roots:
Fibrous root system.
Leaves:
Leaves simple.
Alternate.
Blades linear (4–)5–10(–17) mm wide.
Surfaces glabrous, margins sometimes scaberulous.
Margins entire.
Veins parallel.
Sheaths glabrous, with margins overlapping; ligule 2–5.5 mm long, obtuse, puberulent, finely erose–ciliate.
Stipules absent.
Flowers:
Flowers in inflorescences paniculate, 12–30 cm long, open; spikelets 2(3)– flowered, rachilla glabrous or sparsely hirsute, not readily disarticulating above glumes and between florets; glumes usually exceeding florets, 9–11(–13)–nerved, first glume (17–)18–26 mm long, second glume (18–)20–28 mm long; lemmas (12–)14–20 mm long, glabrous to sometimes scabrous, 3–7–nerved, the nerves obscure on the indurate, yellowish brown lower part and prominent on the herbaceous upper ½, apex entire or very shallowly bilobed, callus naked or only sparsely bearded, awns, when ± present, on first floret, (15–)22–35 mm long, not geniculate; palea firm, the 2 keels ciliate.
Florets bisexual (perfect).
Stamens 3.
Ovary superior.
Fruit:
Caryopsis pale brown; ellipsoid; ca. 1 cm long; ca. 2.5 mm wide; appressed pubescent.
Ploidy:
2n = 20; 40–42; 48; 63
Habitat:
Sparingly naturalized in disturbed places and occasionally in open pastures.
Elevation Range:
60–1,220 m.