Plants annual or perennial; cespitose, with many innova-tions, not rhizomatous, or with poorly developed rhizomes. Culms 15–95 cm, erect or geniculate at the base, sometimes rooting at the lower nodes; nodes 3–6. Sheaths glabrous; ligules 2–6 mm; blades3–29 cm long, 3–8 mm wide, adaxial surfaces slightly scabridulous. Racemes 8–35 cm, with 6–13 spikelets; internodes 1–6 cm; pedicels 1–5.5(9) mm, ascending to spreading. Spikelets 15–60 mm, ascending to spreading, with 7–20(30) florets, lower florets bisexual, upper florets pistillate, terminal florets sterile. Glumes lanceolate to broadly ovate; lower glumes 1–4.5 mm; upper glumes 2–6.5 mm, 1–3-veined; rachilla internodes 1–2.8 mm long, 0.2–0.5 mm thick, with a glandular swelling at the base; lemmas 4.5–7.5 mm, 7(9)-veined, veins distinct, often prominent, apices truncate or emarginate, unawned or awned, awns to 11 mm; paleal keels scabridulous, each with a 0.5–2.5 mm triangular, winglike appendage, often denticulate beyond the appendage; anthers 2.5–4 mm. Caryopses 2.5–3.1 mm.
Pleuropogon californicus is a Californian endemic with two varieties.