HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Stolons present; with alternating elongated and bunched internodes. Culms 2-15 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades aciculate; involute; 0.5-1 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute; hardened. INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 1-5 fertile spikelets; terminal and axillary; shorter than basal leaves; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath; embraced at base by subtending leaf. Panicle capitate; oblong, or ovate; 1-2 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile. FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6-12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 7-13 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pilose. GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets, or shorter than spikelet; shiny. Lower glume ovate; 6-8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate; mucronate. Upper glume ovate; 6-8 mm long; 1.6-2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate; mucronate. FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 3-5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; hairy below. Lemma margins ciliate; hairy below. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.4-0.5 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; straight, or curved; 1.5-2.5 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface pilose; hairy on back. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped. FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; laterally compressed; smooth (translucent). Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis; projecting below grain. DISTRIBUTION North America: southwest USA, south-central USA, and Mexico. NOTES Eragrostideae. Gould.