Phleum pratense

Tufted perennial, culms erect, basal internodes often bulbous, to 1.5 m high. Leaves glabrous, finely scabrous; blade narrowly pointed, to 20 cm long and 8 mm wide; ligule obtuse, 1.5–5 mm long. Inflorescence a cylindric panicle, 4–15 cm long, 5–10 mm wide; glumes oblong, 3–4 mm long (excluding awns), with a row of coarse, erect bristles along the thickened keel, awns rigid, 1–2 mm long, erect to slightly recurved, lower glume ciliate along margin; lemma 5-nerved, shallowly toothed at apex, 2–3 mm long, minutely pubescent; palea 2-nerved, slightly shorter than lemma. Flowers Jan.–Mar.