This native annual or perennial grows as a solitary stem or more often in bunches. The thin 1-3 foot stems have rather inconspicuous leaves from 2-8 inches long and up to 1/4 inch wide. The flower cluster is a moderately open to densely closed, slender, nodding 2-8 inch panicle. The nodding character of the panicle persists, even in mature, dry plants (D).
Moist ground usually in the woods. At Fontenelle Forest there is a large colony near the junction of North Stream and Cottonwood Trails. It is uncommon on River Trail at Neale Woods. Flowering occurs in late May and early June. This grass matures rather quickly in June and then disappears, much like our early woodland wildflowers.
Nodding Fescue (Festuca subverticillata) and Fowl Mannagrass (Glyceria striata) occupy similar habitats and have nodding panicles. However, panicles of both are significantly more open and spreading and they have larger, more prominent leaves than Slender Wedgegrass.
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