Plant Image
Herbarium specimen
- Arizona State University Vascular Plant Herbarium, Usage Rights: Non-Commercial (CC BY-NC)


Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants

Festuca ovina - sheep fescue

Plant Form: Grass

Family: Poaceae


   
 
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Herbarium specimen
Arizona State University Vascular Plant Herbarium, Usage Rights: Non-Commercial (CC BY-NC)
Spikelets
ASU Vascular Plant Herbarium, Usage Rights: Attribution-Non-Commercial (CC BY-NC)
  Grass Description -   Glossary of Grass Terminology


Origin: Native    Season: Cool and Warm
Habitat Description: Found in diverse habitats including hillsides, meadows, and open forests.
Plant Communities:Montane Conifer Forest
Elevation: 7000 - 12000 feet

Similar Species: Festuca arizonica, Festuca idahoensis
General Description

Desc: Densely tufted, cool season dwarf perennial with narrow, stiff basal leaves and a narrow, dense flower cluster.
Identification Notes: Densely tufted perennial; stems 3 to 15 inches tall; blades narrow, firm, rolled, 2 to 6 inches long; seedhead stem up to 12 inches long; seedhead contracted, often spikelike, 2 to 4 inches long; spikelets 4 or 5 flowered; lemmas about a 1/4 inch long.
Grass Type: Perennial bunchgrass  Rhizomes: N  Stolons: N
Large Dense Clump (> 2 feet): N  Bushy (highly branched): N
Height with Seedheads: 12 to 24 inches
Seedhead Structure: Branched - contracted  Seedhead Droops: N
Flowering Period: Jul - Sep
Flower Characteristics

Number of Flowers per Spikelet: Multi-flowered  Spikelets One-sided: N
Awns: Less than 1/4 inch   Three Awns: N  Awns Bent: N
Flower and Seedhead Notes: Seedhead often spikelike, 1 to 2 branches per node, branches usually erect, lower branches with 2 or more spikelets; spikelets mostly 4 to 5 flowered; lemmas awns less than 1/16 inch long.
Vegetative Charcteristics

Blade Hairy: Y    Blade with White Margins: N    Blade Cross section: Involute
Blade Notes: Blades narrow, 2 to 6 inches long, smooth or hairy, with 1 to 3 indistinct ribs.
Sheath Hairy: N    Tuft of Hairs at top of Sheath or Collar: N    Ligules: Hairy
Auricles (Ear-like lobes at collar area: N

Forage Value: Unknown.


  Arizona Cooperative Extension
Yavapai County
840 Rodeo Dr #C
Prescott, AZ 86305
(928) 445-6590
Version 8.0  
http://cales.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetailGrass.php  
Last Updated: Dec 13, 2022
Content Questions/Comments: Email Matt Halldorson  
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