Scientific Family
Poaceae
Plant type
Grasses
Riparian
No
Grass Description
Origin
Native
Season
Cool
Warm
Found in diverse habitats including hillsides, meadows, and open forests.
Plant Community
Montane Conifer Forest
Low elevation
7000
High elevation
12000
Similar species
Festuca arizonica, Festuca idahoensis
General Description
Densely tufted, cool season dwarf perennial with narrow, stiff basal leaves and a narrow, dense flower cluster.
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
No
Stolons
No
Clump Diameter 2 ft or more
No
Bushy - highly branched
No
Height with Seedheads
12 inches or more
Seedhead Structure
Branched - contracted
Seedhead droops
No
First bloom month
July
Last bloom month
September
Flower Characteristics
Flowers per Spikelet
Multi-flowered
Spikelets One-Sided
No
Awns
Less than 1/4 inch
Three Awns
No
Awns bent
No
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 Characteristics
Blade is hairy
Yes
Blade margins white
No
Blade cross-section
Involute – rolled inward on upper surface
Blades narrow, 2 to 6 inches long, smooth or hairy, with 1 to 3 indistinct ribs.
Sheath is hairy
No
Tufts of hair top of sheath or collar
No
Ligule
Hairy
Auricles
No
Unknown.