Is a bunch grass. Appears to be like a bluegrass, but differs in having awns. Culms (stems) hollow. | |||
leaves |
inflorescence |
spikelets |
lemmas |
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palea |
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florets |
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General
Description:
Culms usually tufted in large bunches;
blades numerous, very scabrous, rarely smooth, filiform, involute; spikelets
mostly 5-7 flowered; lemmas nearly terete, about 7 mm long; awn usually 2-4
mm long. This may be only a larger phase of F. ovina. Open woods and dry soil.
Alta. To B. C., south to Colo. And Calif. Very abundant in Idaho, and one of
the important range grasses.
Distribution:
British Columbia to Alberta south through Cascade and Olympic mountains through
Oregon to Sierran
California eastward through Nevada, northward to Colorado, Montana, Wyoming,
Montana, Utah and Idaho.
Habitat:
Found in grasslands and sagebrush, dry desert areas up to dry mountain slopes
and meadows
Other:
Idaho Fescue is an extremely important forage grass and often disappears with
overgrazing