Rhizomatous, 3-6 dm, the culms in large loose tufts; lower sheaths hairy at least at the top; lvs 2-4 mm wide; ligule shorter than wide, broadly rounded or truncate; infl loose and open, ovoid, its slender, widely divergent branches usually paired, bearing a few spikelets above the middle; spikelets 5-8 mm, 3-4-fld, the rachilla-joints 0.8-1.3 mm; first glume 2.3-4.3 mm, the second 3.1-4.8 mm; lemmas distinctly 3-veined (the intermediate veins obscure), ±hairy on the veins and glabrous between them, webbed at base; lowest lemma 3.6-5.2 mm; anthers 2.1-2.8 mm; 2n=28. Moist woods; N.J. to s. Ind., s. to Ga. Early spring.
Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.