It differs from the wild oat, A. fatua L., in having shorter, more slender lemmas that terminate in two bristle-like glume points. Juvenile growth is upright. The species is not in cultivation. A. barbata Pott ex Link. This species has small, weak stems, resulting in a decumbent growth habit.
Panicles are equilateral, rather large, and drooping.
Seeds fall to the ground at maturity. The species is now widely distributed throughout the world. The origin is believed to be Europe. The species is not grown as a grain crop but has become naturalized widely. In California it is a reseeding range grass.