It is native to western North America, including Canada from British Columbia to Manitoba and the United States from California to Colorado.

[2] It is a perennial bunchgrass growing erect to heights between 60 centimeters and one meter.

The inflorescence is a dense bunch or open array of spikelets.

Each spikelet is about half a centimeter long and has a bent or twisted awn about the same length.

It occurs in forest areas but only flowers under full sunlight in late June through August.