''Festuca'' (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family

Poaceae Poaceae () or Gramineae () is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos and the grasses of natural grassland and species cultivated in lawns an ...

(subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or

herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of t ...

perennial tufted grasses with a height range of and a

cosmopolitan distribution In biogeography, cosmopolitan distribution is the term for the range of a taxon that extends across all or most of the world in appropriate habitats. Such a taxon, usually a species, is said to exhibit cosmopolitanism or cosmopolitism. The ext ...

, occurring on every continent except Antarctica. The genus is closely related to ryegrass (''Lolium''), and recent evidence from phylogenetic studies using

DNA sequencing DNA sequencing is the process of determining the nucleic acid sequence – the order of nucleotides in DNA. It includes any method or technology that is used to determine the order of the four bases: adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine. Th ...

of plant

mitochondrial DNA Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA or mDNA) is the DNA located in mitochondria, cellular organelles within eukaryotic cells that convert chemical energy from food into a form that cells can use, such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Mitochondrial D ...

shows that the genus lacks monophyly. As a result, plant taxonomists have moved several species, including the forage grasses tall fescue and meadow fescue, from the genus ''Festuca'' into the genus ''Lolium'', or alternatively into the segregate genus '' Schedonorus''. Because the taxonomy is complex, scientists have not determined how many true species belong to the genus, but estimates range from more than 400 to over 640.Darbyshire, S. J. and L. E. Pavlick
''Festuca''.
Grass Manual. Flora of North America. Fescue

pollen Pollen is a powdery substance produced by seed plants. It consists of pollen grains (highly reduced microgametophytes), which produce male gametes (sperm cells). Pollen grains have a hard coat made of sporopollenin that protects the gametophyt ...

is a significant contributor to

hay fever Allergic rhinitis, of which the seasonal type is called hay fever, is a type of inflammation in the nose that occurs when the immune system overreacts to allergens in the air. Signs and symptoms include a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, red, i ...

Taxonomy

The genus ''Festuca'' represents a major evolutionary line of the tribe Poeae. The ancient group has produced various segregates that possess more advanced characteristics than ''Festuca'', including racemose inflorescences and more annual habits. The word "'' festuca''" is a Latin word meaning "stem" or "stalk" first used by Pliny the Elder to describe a weed. The word ''Festuca'' first appears to describe grasses in Dodoens' "Stirpium historiae pemptades sex, sive libri XXX" in 1583. However, the plant Dodoens described as ''Festuca altera'' is truly '' Bromus secalinus''. Other authors before Linnaeus used the name to describe other various species of '' Bromus''. In the first edition of "Genera Plantarum", Linnaeus describes seven species of ''Festuca'', five of which are truly ''Bromus'' grasses with the other two being '' Festuca gigantea'' and '' Festuca pratensis''. In 1753 the genus is accepted as first being formally described, in Linnaeus' "Species Plantarum". Eleven species were described, with '' F. ovina'' being the type species. Of these eleven, one species was ''

Danthonia ''Danthonia'' is a genus of Eurasian, North African, and American plants in the grass family. Members of this genus are sometimes referred to as oatgrass, but that common name is not restricted to this genus. Other common names include heathgra ...

'', one ''

Poa ''Poa'' is a genus of about 570 species of grasses, native to the temperate regions of both hemispheres. Common names include meadow-grass (mainly in Europe and Asia), bluegrass (mainly in North America), tussock (some New Zealand species), a ...

'', and one '' Koeleria''. The first major

monograph A monograph is a specialist work of writing (in contrast to reference works) or exhibition on a single subject or an aspect of a subject, often by a single author or artist, and usually on a scholarly subject. In library cataloging, ''monograph ...

on the genus was Hackel's "Monographia Festucarum Europaearum" in 1882. Since Linnaeus' publications, seven genera have been proposed for groups of perennial fescues and fifteen for annual fescues, all with varying degrees of acceptance. For example, in 1906 the subgenus ''

Vulpia ''Vulpia'' is a widespread genus of plants in the grass family, native to many countries around the world and naturalized in many of the nations to which it is not native. It is most common in temperate regions. ''Vulpia'' is a part of a group o ...

'' was introduced for North American species. The annual habit and shorter

anther The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filam ...

s of ''Vulpia'' has since been enough to distinguish ''Vulpia'' as a separate genus from ''Festuca''. The taxonomy of the genus is ultimately problematic and controversial, as evidenced by the large number of small genera closely related to ''Festuca''. Often distinguishing species within the genus requires the analysis of highly specific morphological differences on characters such as ovary pubescence or leaf sclerenchyma patterns. This distribution of sclerenchyma tissue is an important distinguishing character between species, and though species can be locally distinguished without analyzing these characteristics, to distinguish the genus as a whole the analysis is necessary.

Description

''Festuca'' grasses are perennial and

bisexual Bisexuality is a romantic or sexual attraction or behavior toward both males and females, or to more than one gender. It may also be defined to include romantic or sexual attraction to people regardless of their sex or gender identity, whi ...

plants that are densely to loosely cespitose. Some grasses are rhizomatous, some lack rhizomes, and rarely species are

stolon In biology, stolons (from Latin '' stolō'', genitive ''stolōnis'' – "branch"), also known as runners, are horizontal connections between organisms. They may be part of the organism, or of its skeleton; typically, animal stolons are external s ...

iferous. The culms of the grasses are typically glabrous and smooth, though some species have scabrous culms or culms that are pubescent below the inflorescences. The leaf sheaths range from open to the base to closed to the top. Some species have sheaths that persist over years and typically have deciduous blades, and some species have sheaths that quickly shred into fibers and decay in

senescence Senescence () or biological aging is the gradual deterioration of functional characteristics in living organisms. The word ''senescence'' can refer to either cellular senescence or to senescence of the whole organism. Organismal senescence inv ...

and typically have blades that are not deciduous. Species lack auricles. The

membranous A membrane is a selective barrier; it allows some things to pass through but stops others. Such things may be molecules, ions, or other small particles. Membranes can be generally classified into synthetic membranes and biological membranes. ...

ligule A ligule (from "strap", variant of ''lingula'', from ''lingua'' "tongue") is a thin outgrowth at the junction of leaf and leafstalk of many grasses (Poaceae) and sedges. A ligule is also a strap-shaped extension of the corolla, such as that of a ...

s measure and are typically longest at the margins. The ligules are typically truncate and ciliate, though they can occasionally be

acute Acute may refer to: Science and technology * Acute angle ** Acute triangle ** Acute, a leaf shape in the glossary of leaf morphology * Acute (medicine), a disease that it is of short duration and of recent onset. ** Acute toxicity, the adverse eff ...

erose This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to botany and plants in general. Terms of plant morphology are included here as well as at the more specific Glossary of plant morphology and Glossary o ...

. The flat and

conduplicate The following is a list of terms which are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (a single leaf blade or lamina) or compound (with several leaflets). The edge of the leaf may be regular o ...

leaf blades are involute or convolute and are sometimes

glaucous ''Glaucous'' (, ) is used to describe the pale grey or bluish-green appearance of the surfaces of some plants, as well as in the names of birds, such as the glaucous gull (''Larus hyperboreus''), glaucous-winged gull (''Larus glaucescens''), g ...

pruinose Pruinescence , or pruinosity, is a "frosted" or dusty-looking coating on top of a surface. It may also be called a pruina (plural: ''pruinae''), from the Latin word for hoarfrost. The adjectival form is pruinose . Entomology In insects, a "blo ...

. The

abaxial {{Short pages monitor *'' Festuca paradoxa'' – cluster fescue *''

Festuca parciflora ''Festuca parciflora'' is a species of grass in the family Poaceae. It is found only in Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, whi ...

'' *'' Festuca perennis''– (historical) perennial and Italian ryegrass *''

Festuca petraea ''Festuca petraea'' is a species of grass endemic to the Azores, Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwes ...

'' – Azorean fescue *''

Festuca picturata ''Festuca picturata'' is a species of grass which can be found in Central, Eastern and southeastern Europe. Description The plant is perennial and caespitose with long culms that are clumped. The ligule is going around the eciliate membrane w ...

'' *'' Festuca pilgeri'' *''

Festuca polycolea ''Festuca polycolea'' is a species of grass which is endemic to India. Description The plant is perennial and caespitose with long culms that are erect. The ligule is long and is going around the eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades are filiform, c ...

'' *''

Festuca porcii ''Festuca porcii'' is a species of grass which can be found in Central, Eastern, and southeastern parts of Europe. Description The plant is perennial and caespitose with culms. The ligule is going around the eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades ar ...

'' *'' Festuca pratensis'' – meadow fescue, English bluegrass *''

Festuca procera ''Festuca'' (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family (biology), family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or herbaceous plant, herbaceous perennial plant, perennial tufted grasses with a height range of ...

'' *''

Festuca psammophila ''Festuca psammophila'' is a species of Poaceae, grass which is endemic to Central Europe. Description The plant is perennial plant, perennial and caespitose with long culm (botany), culms and smooth Internode (botany), internodes. The ligule i ...

'' *'' Festuca pseudodalmatica'' *'' Festuca pseudodura'' *''

Festuca pseudoeskia ''Festuca'' (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses with a height range of and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on every ...

'' *''

Festuca pseudovina ''Festuca'' (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses with a height range of and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on every ...

'' – pseudovina *''

Festuca pulchella ''Festuca'' (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses with a height range of and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on every ...

'' *''

Festuca punctoria ''Festuca punctoria'' is a species of grass in the family Poaceae Poaceae () or Gramineae () is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos an ...

'' *'' Festuca purpurascens'' *''

Festuca pyrenaica ''Festuca'' (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses with a height range of and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on every ...

'' *'' Festuca quadriflora'' *''

Festuca richardsonii ''Festuca'' (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses with a height range of and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on every ...

'' – arctic fescue *''

Festuca riccerii ''Festuca'' (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses with a height range of and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on every ...

'' *''

Festuca rigescens ''Festuca'' (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses with a height range of and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on ev ...

'' *''

Festuca rivularis ''Festuca rivularis'' is a species of grass in the family Poaceae. It is native to the mountains of southwestern Europe and to northeastern Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast E ...

'' *'' Festuca rubra'' – red fescue ** ''Festuca rubra'' subsp. ''commutata'' – Chewing's fescue *''

Festuca rupicaprina ''Festuca rupicaprina'' is a species of grass in the family Poaceae. It is native to the Alps The Alps () ; german: Alpen ; it, Alpi ; rm, Alps ; sl, Alpe . are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely i ...

'' *''

Festuca rupicola ''Festuca rupicola'', the furrowed fescue, is a species of cool-season grass in the family Poaceae Poaceae () or Gramineae () is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includ ...

'' – furrowed fescue *''

Festuca saximontana ''Festuca saximontana'', the rocky mountain fescue or the mountain fescue, is a perennial grass native to North America. The specific epithet ''saximontana'' is Latin and means "of the Rocky Mountains". The grass has a diploid number of 42. Taxo ...

'' – Rocky Mountain fescue *''

Festuca scabra ''Festuca'' (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family (biology), family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or herbaceous plant, herbaceous perennial plant, perennial tufted grasses with a height range of ...

'' – munnik fescue *''

Festuca scabriuscula ''Festuca'' (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses with a height range of and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on every ...

'' *''

Festuca scariosa ''Festuca'' (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses with a height range of and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on every ...

'' *''

Festuca sclerophylla ''Festuca'' (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses with a height range of and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on ev ...

'' *''

Festuca sibirica ''Festuca'' (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses with a height range of and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on every ...

'' *'' Festuca sinensis'' *''

Festuca sodiroana ''Festuca sodiroana'' is a species of grass in the family Poaceae. Its habitat spans from southern Ecuador to northern Colombia Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in ...

'' *''

Festuca sororia ''Festuca'' (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses with a height range of and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on ever ...

'' – ravine fescue *''

Festuca spectabilis ''Festuca'' (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses with a height range of and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on every ...

'' *''

Festuca stricta ''Festuca'' (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses with a height range of and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on ev ...

'' *''

Festuca subulata ''Festuca subulata'' is a species of Poaceae, grass known by the common names bearded fescue and nodding fescue. It is native to the northwestern quarter of North America, from Alaska to South Dakota to northern California, where it is most often ...

'' – bearded fescue *''

Festuca subuliflora ''Festuca subuliflora'' is a species of Poaceae, grass known by the common name crinkleawn fescue. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California where it is most abundant in the moist forests of the coastal mountains. ...

'' – crinkle-awn fescue *''

Festuca subulifolia ''Festuca'' (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses with a height range of and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on ev ...

'' *''

Festuca subverticillata ''Festuca'' (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses with a height range of and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on every ...

'' – nodding fescue *''

Festuca tatrae ''Festuca'' (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses with a height range of and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on every ...

'' *''

Festuca thurberi ''Festuca thurberi'' is a species of Poaceae, grass known by the common name Thurber's fescue. It is native to a section of the western United States encompassing New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming. It probably also occurs in parts of Arizon ...

'' – Thurber's fescue *''

Festuca trachyphylla ''Festuca'' (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses with a height range of and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on ev ...

'' *'' Festuca vaginalis'' *''

Festuca vaginata ''Festuca'' (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family (biology), family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or herbaceous plant, herbaceous perennial plant, perennial tufted grasses with a height range of ...

'' *''

Festuca valesiaca ''Festuca valesiaca'', the Volga fescue, is a species of flowering plant in the family Poaceae. It is native to Europe and Asia. It was introduced to North America when it was deliberately planted.Darbyshire, S. J. and L. E. Pavlick. (2007)''Fes ...

'' – Volga fescue *''

Festuca varia ''Festuca'' (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses with a height range of and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on every ...

'' *''

Festuca venusta ''Festuca'' (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses with a height range of and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on every ...

'' *''

Festuca versuta ''Festuca'' (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses with a height range of and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on every ...

'' – Texas fescue *''

Festuca violacea ''Festuca'' (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses with a height range of and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on every ...

'' *''

Festuca viridula ''Festuca viridula'' is a species of grass known by several common names, including green fescue, greenleaf fescue, and mountain bunchgrass. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to Colorado, where it is most abundant in hig ...

'' – green fescue *''

Festuca vivipara ''Festuca vivipara'', the viviparous sheep's-fescue, is a species of grass native to northern Europe, northern Asia, and subarctic North America. The specific epithet ''vivipara'' is Latin, referring to the florets' alteration to leafy tufts. Th ...

'' – viviparous fescue *'' Festuca viviparoidea'' – northern fescue *''

Festuca washingtonica ''Festuca'' (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses with a height range of and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on every ...

'' – Washington fescue *''

Festuca weberbaueri ''Festuca'' (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family (biology), family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or herbaceous plant, herbaceous perennial plant, perennial tufted grasses with a height range of ...

'' *''

Festuca xanthina ''Festuca'' (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses with a height range of and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on every ...

'' *''

Festuca yalaensis ''Festuca'' (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses with a height range of and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on every ...

Subgenus ''Schedonorus''

:Proposed for inclusion in genus ''Lolium'' *'' Festuca arundinacea'' (

syn. The Botanical and Zoological Codes of nomenclature treat the concept of synonymy differently. * In botanical nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that applies to a taxon that (now) goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linnae ...

''Festuca elatior'', ''Lolium arundinaceum'') – tall fescue *'' Festuca gigantea'' (''Lolium giganteum'') – giant fescue *''

Festuca mazzettiana ''Festuca'' (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses with a height range of and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on every ...

'' (''Lolium mazzettianum'') *'' Festuca pratensis'' (''Lolium pratensis'') – meadow fescue

References

External links

University of Arizona Extension Service
flora and fauna image gallery {{Taxonbar, from=Q157337 Poaceae genera Grasses of Africa Grasses of Asia Grasses of Europe Grasses of North America Grasses of Oceania Grasses of South America Pooideae Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus