Short-lived, bunched, weedy native perennial 12-32 inches tall. Flat leaf blades are up to 5 inches long and 1/4 inch wide tapering to a pointed tip. The drooping 3-5 inch flower spike with its straight, spreading, long awns responsible for its characteristic “bushy” appearance makes identification of this grass easier than most. The soft, greenish or purplish spike fades to a pale brown at maturity when the spike breaks apart.
Waste ground, pastures, ditches and roadsides. To date, it has been found only at Fontenelle Forest where it is uncommon on the floodplain along the edges of Camp Gifford Road. Flowering occurs from June to August.
The long awns can injure grazing livestock or wildlife, producing sores in the mouth, throat, nose and eyes. They also lodge in fleece, thereby contaminating the wool.
This native grass was collected by Lewis & Clark in Montana and near Fort Clatsop in present day Oregon in 1806.
The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Neal Ratzlaff.