Tufted perennial with creeping rhizomes; culms 10-60 cm high, erect or geniculately ascending, smooth. Leaf-blades flat or convolute, 2-15 cm long, 1-3 mm wide, rough on both surfaces or smooth beneath; ligule 1-5 mm long, acute or obtuse. Panicle lanceolate to narrowly ovate or oblong, 2-20 cm long, usually ± contracted and rather dense before and after anthesis, green purplish or brown; inflated tip of pedicel smooth or almost so. Spikelets 2-3.3 mm long, breaking up at maturity above the persistent glumes; glumes acute, awnless, rough on the keel (or the upper almost smooth); lemma 1.5-2.5 mm long, very blunt, awnless or with a fine bent awn 2-4.5 mm long arising from slightly below the middle; palea minute; anthers 1-1.5 mm long.

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

Type locality: Germany.

Distribution: Pakistan (Punjab, N.W.F.P., Gilgit & Kashmir); throughout Europe and temperate Asia.

Brown Bent is a drought-resistant grass which spreads by means of its rhizomes to form a fine, compact turf. It is often confused with Agrostis canina from which it is distinguished by the presence of rhizomes and the absence of stolons. 2300-4300 m.