Muhlenbergia cuspidata is a species of grass known by the common name plains muhly. It is native to North America where it is distributed across central Canada and the central United States. This perennial grass grows in clumps. It has shallow fibrous roots. The stems have thick, knotty, scaly bases and grow up to about 60 centimeters tall. The leaves are narrow and may be flat or folded. The inflorescence is a panicle that is very narrow and spikelike, with an uneven row of short branches. The dark green or grayish spikelets contain usually one but sometimes two flowers. Blooming occurs in June through October.