Loosely tufted perennial 3-10 dm; sheaths ±hairy; lvs with 2 lines of bulliform cells flanking the midvein above; ligule to 1 mm and truncate in basal lvs, 5-8 mm and acute in cauline ones; spikelets erect, 2-4-fld; glumes 9-18 mm, the first 1(3)-veined, the second 3-veined; rachilla and callus beset with copious long white hairs; lemmas 9-13 mm, scabrous, hyaline at the erose tip; awn 1.5-2 cm; 2n=14. Native of Europe, rarely intr. or adventive in waste places from Que. to Del., and in w. Minn. (Avena p.; Avenula p.)
Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.