Slender
weedy annual grass; leaves up to 10 cm long, generally less than
one-half cm wide; inflorescence a contracted panicle of many spikelets;
spikelets with 6 to 12 florets, about 2 to 4 mm in length; paleas
stiffly long-ciliate. May occur intermixed with variety laxa, which differs
in the panicle much less contracted, the spikelets well-separated.