Bromus bifidus Thunberg in Murray, Syst. Veg., ed. 14, 119. 1784; Avena bifida (Thunberg) P. Beauvois; Trisetum flavescens (Linnaeus) P. Beauvois var. bifidum (Thunberg) Makino; T. flavescens var. macranthum Hackel; T. flavescens var. papillosum Hackel.

Perennial, tussocky. Culms erect or geniculate at base, 30–100 cm tall, glabrous, 2–5-noded. Leaf sheaths usually shorter than internodes, glabrous or pilose, margins joined in lower part; leaf blades flat, soft, up to 20 cm, 3–6 mm wide, glabrous or occasionally pilose; ligule 0.5–2 mm. Panicle lax, oblong to lanceolate-oblong in outline, 10–25 cm, often nodding, yellow-green or brown green; branches 2 or 3 at basal node, scaberulous, lowest up to 10 cm. Spikelets 6–8 mm, florets 2 or 3; rachilla hairs 0.2–0.5 mm; glumes unequal, lower glume 2–3.5 mm, upper glume 4–7 mm, apex acuminate; callus pubescent; lemmas 5–7 mm, firm, golden brown, punctate-scabrid, awned from upper 1/4, apex 2-toothed, teeth 1–2 mm, aristulate; awn 7–10 mm, fine, strongly recurved near base, not twisted; palea 1/2(–2/3) length of lemma, keels conspicuously convex, ciliolate. Anthers 0.5–1 mm. Fl. Apr–Jun.

Forests, roadsides, moist grassy ditch banks; 500–2500 m. Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Shandong, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Japan, Korea, New Guinea].