Its characteristic of forming many rhizomes helps distinguish it from some other grass species. Stems are erect and nearly round or slightly flattened. Leaf blades are flat to folded, 1-15 cm. Ligules are shorter than wide, and less than 2 mm. in length.
Inflorescence is a panicle that is open to somewhat contracted.
Lemmas have abundant cottony hairs at the base easily visible with a hand lens. Illustrations by Elsie Froeschner in The Grasses of Iowa by Richard Pohl, Vol. Used herein with permission from the Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa. See the ink drawing below. Illustrations by Elsie Froeschner in The Grasses of Iowa by Richard Pohl, Vol.