Wood meadow grass is a perennial tussock grass with very variable forms. Found mainly in light woodland in shade or semishade. It produces culms with side shoots, is approx. 80 cm tall, shoots early in the spring and flowers in June/July. Widespread in light, semi-shaded deciduous and coniferous woodland, copses and parks. Grows in loose tufts and often is alone stand-forming. Of secondary importance as a forage crop, although may provide rough grazing for sheep. Used as a turf grass in shady lawn mixes with limited success. Useful for landscape greening where little or no mowing is required. The species disappears very rapidly when cut short.
| Leaf | Leaf folded in the bud, leaf sheath glabrous and open. Leaf blade 2– 3 mm wide, linear or tapered to a point, no ribbing, double groove on the upper side not always pronounced, ligule very short, no auricles. |
| Culm | Culm mostly upright up to approx. 80 cm tall, often produces side shoots with compressed internodes, leaf blades projecting at right angles. |
| Inflorescence | Slightly drooping, below 10 cm long and spread during flowering. Approximately 5 side branches at each node of the main axis. 2–5 florets per spikelet. Spikelets grey to greenish brown or purple. Glumes sharply pointed, lower one shorter than the upper one. Lemma lanceolate, awnless, sometimes lightly haired. |
| Fruit | Grain lanceolate, 2.5–3 mm long, cross-section triangular, lemma keeled, smooth and glossy, lower section hairy. Palea flat with toothed keel. Pedicel up to 1.4 mm long, cylindrical, slender and hairy. TSW approx. 0.2 g. |