Loosely to densely tufted perennial without rhizomes; culms 30-120 cm high, erect or spreading, moderately slender to stout. Leaf-blades flat, prominently ribbed above, up to 45 cm long, 3-8 mm wide, glossy beneath, sometimes scaberulous above; ligule up to 1mm long, with prominent glabrous falcate auricles. Panicle lanceolate to ovate, 10-20(-35)cm long, erect or nodding, ± 1-sided, the branches scabrid, Spikelets 5-12-flowered, (8,5-)10-20 mm long; lower glume 2-4mm long, 1-nerved; upper glume 3-5(-7)mm long, 1-3-nerved, lemmas narrowly oblong to lanceolate-oblong in side-view, 6-7mm long, smooth or scaberulous towards the tip, usually awnless; palea scabrid along the keels; anthers 3-4mm long; ovary glabrous.

Fl. & Fr. Per.: June-August.

Type locality: England.

Distribution: Pakistan (Baluchistan & N.W.F.P.); Europe and Southwest Asia; introduced in North America and elsewhere.

Meadow Fescue is a valuable grazing and hay grass for rich, moist soils. c. 2000m.