You have identified:

Meadow Fescue
(Festuca elatior )

Illustration from Scribner (1898) as F. elatior arundinacea

General Information: Also called Taller Fescue. Found in lawns, meadows and along roadsides. It is a perennial, flowering from June to August and growing from 1 1/2-2' high. It is a member of the Grass Family (Poaceae).

The inflorescence contracts before and after flowering (in a clump when contracted, in a spray when not contracted). The branches sometimes go in different directions, sometimes going to one side. The flowers have several overlapping scales without bristles. The flower clusters are large. The flat leaves bulge at the bottom. This coarse grass is green, turning tan.

This may be easily confused with Festuca rubra, which has long bristles on each flower scale and narrow, wiry leaves with no bulges at the base, or Bromus inermis, which has longer flower clusters tinged with bronze or purple, and short-bristled flower scales on the end, which are wider towards the top.