One half to 5 feet tall. Leaves few on stem, long and narrow. Inflorescence terminal, green. Flower clusters (spikelets) crowded into a short, fuzzy, nodding, squirrel-tail cluster. Spikelets have long bristles (awns).

A native plant of moist to wet areas, especially stream and riverbanks. Occasional along Connelly's Run and in other moist places.

Resembles the alien nodding foxtail, but that species has droopier inflorescences and likes drier, disturbed habitats.