Culms often 30-45 cm, pilose to subglabrous; nodes bearded. Cauline blades pilose on both surfaces, those of the upper leaves very reduced. Spikelets 1.1-1.6 mm, glabrous, obovoid; lower glumes about 1/3 as long as the spikelets. 2n = 18.
Dichanthelium strigosum subsp. strigosum grows in sandy, low, open pine woods and bogs. It is the most widespread of the three subspecies, extending from southeastern Virginia through the coastal plain to eastern Texas, Florida, Cuba, and the West Indies to Colombia.