General:
Perennial, loosely tufted grass from fibrous roots; stems 35-120 cm tall, with visible nodes.

Leaves:
Sheaths not conspicuous at the base of the stems, shredding into fibres towards the end of the growing season; blades 10-30 cm long, 3-10 mm wide, flat, lax; ligules 0.2-0.7 (1) mm long, fringed.

Flowers:
Inflorescence an open panicle, (10) 15-30 (40) cm long, the branches 6-10 (15) cm long; spikelets 3- to 4- (6-) flowered, 6-11 (12) mm long; lower glumes (1.8) 2-3.2 (4) mm long, the upper ones (2) 3.5-5.5 (6) mm long; lemmas (5) 6-7.5 (8.8) mm long, awned, the awns (2.5) 5-10 (17) mm long, sometimes curving but not crinkled; anthers 1.5-2.8 mm long; ovary tops hairy.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Illustration Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Flower Colour:
Yellow

Blooming Period:
Late Spring

Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Brown
Present over the Summer

Source:  The USDA

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Festuca subulata subsp. subulata