Loose to dense perennial tufts to c. 100 cm, often forming a dense turf or loose sward, spreading by very short rhizomes; branching intra- and extravaginal, the intravaginal shoots erect or sometimes decumbent or forming trailing stolons, the extravaginal shoots subterranean, bearing pale scale-leaves. Leaf-sheath glabrous, greenish to purplish. Ligule 0.6-2 mm, truncate to rounded, in non-flowering shoots shorter than wide. Leaf-blade (1.5)-2-13-(15) cm × 1-2.5-(5) mm, flat or ± involute, ± scabrid, acute. Culm erect or geniculate, often procumbent and branching then erect or ascending, sometimes remaining ± horizontal, internodes usually smooth, rarely scabrid below panicle. Panicle 2-15-(28) cm, oblong to ovate or pyramidal, usually very lax with many spreading branches; rachis smooth or sometimes scabrid above, branches and pedicels smooth or slightly scabrid. Spikelets 1.5-3.5 mm, purplish brown to greenish. Glumes subequal, lanceolate, acute; lower slightly scabrid above on midnerve, upper smooth. Lemma 1.5-2.5 mm, smooth or sparsely scabrid, ovate or elliptic, obtuse or truncate, 3-nerved with marginal nerves sometimes slightly excurrent and midnerve not usually reaching lemma tip, or rarely 5-nerved with midnerve produced to an awn arising middorsally and occasionally geniculate and projecting slightly beyond tip of lemma. Palea usually ½-⅔ length of lemma, apex usually bifid. Callus glabrous or with very short hairs. Anthers 1-1.5 mm. Caryopsis c. 1 × 0.4 mm. Plate 3B.

Loose to dense perennial tufts to c. 100 cm tall, often forming a dense turf or loose sward, spreading by very shortrhizomes; branching intra- andextravaginal, the intravaginal shoots erect or sometimes decumbent or forming trailing stolons, the extravaginal shoots subterranean, bearing pale scale-leaves. Sheaths smooth, greenish to purplish; ligule 0.6-2 mm, truncate to rounded, in non-flowering shoots shorter than wide; lamina (1.5)-2-13-(15) cm × 1-2.5- (5) mm, flat or ± involute, ± scabrous, acute. Culms erect or geniculate, often procumbent and branching then erect or inclined, sometimes remaining ± horizontal, usually smooth, rarely scabrous below panicle. Panicle 2-15-(28) cm long, oblong to ovate or pyramidal, much-branched, usually very lax with branches spreading; rachis smooth or sometimes scabrous above, branchlets and pedicels smooth or slightly scabrous. Spikelets 1.5-3.5 mm, purplish brown to greenish. Glumes subequal, lanceolate, acute; lower glume slightly scabrous above on midnerve, upper glume smooth. Lemma 1.5-2.5 mm, smooth or sparsely scabrous, glabrous, ovate or elliptic, obtuse or truncate, 3-nerved with marginal nerves sometimes slightly excurrent and midnerve not usually reaching lemma tip, or rarely 5-nerved with midnerve produced to an awn arising middorsally and occasionally geniculate and projecting slightly beyond tip of lemma. Palea usually ½-2/3 length of lemma, usually bifid. Callus glabrous or with very short hairs. Anthers 1-1.5 mm. Caryopsis c. 1 × 0.4 mm. 2n = 28. Naturalised in New Zealand from Europe and temperate Asia.