Festuca (fescue)

Fescue (Festuca) is a genus of about 300 species of perennial tufted grasses, belonging to the grass family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution, although the majority of the species are found in cool temperate areas, such as the transition zone and Canada.

Fescues range from small grasses only 100 mm tall or less with very fine thread-like leaves less than 1 mm wide, to tall grasses up to 2 m tall with large leaves up to 600 mm (2 feet) long and 20 mm (3/4 in.) broad.

Fescue pollen is a significant contributor to hay fever.


USES
The fescues contain some species which are important grasses for both lawns (particularly the fine-leaved species, highly valued for bowling greens) and as pasture and hay for livestock, being a highly nutritious stock feed. They are also used in soil erosion control programs, most notably tall fescue, one cultivar of which, Kentucky 31 (Festuca arundinacea), was used in land reclamation during the dust bowl period in the 1930s in the US.

Fescue is sometimes used as feed for horses. However, fescue poisoning, which results from a fungus, is a risk for pregnant mares. Occurring in the last three months of pregnancy, fescue poisoning increases the risk of spontaneous abortion, stillbirths, retained placenta, absent milk production, and prolonged pregnancy. Incorporating legumes into the fescue can be a way to increase livestock gains and conception rates, even if the fescue is infected.

Fescue may also cause a type of cancer in the colon of the Horse which will result in a slow painful death for the horse.


Selected species
Festuca arizonica, commonly called Arizona fescue, is a grass found in western North America, in the southwest United States and northern Mexico. This species also has the common names mountain bunchgrass and pinegrass.

Festuca californica is a species of grass known by the common name California fescue. It is native to the US states of California and Oregon where it is a member of many plant communities, including chaparral. This fescue is a clumping perennial without rhizomes. It reaches anywhere from 40 to 120 centimeters in height. The rough leaves are narrow but can be quite long. The inflorescence holds spikelets which are each one to two centimeters long. The plant reproduces from seed and from buds located at the base of the clump. This is a California native grass which is used for revegetating grassland that has been cleared or claimed by non-native grasses.

Festuca elmeri is a species of grass known by the common names coast fescue and Elmer's fescue. It is native to the US states of California and Oregon, where it often grows in wet, shady areas in coastal counties. This fescue grows in thin bunches with erect stems reaching up to one meter in height. The leaves are somewhat hairy and 10 to 40 centimeters long. The drooping inflorescence holds spikelets which are each about a centimeter long and have light-colored, hairlike awns.

Festuca glauca (blue fescue) is a plant in the grass family, Poaceae.

Festuca idahoensis is a species of grass known by the common names Idaho fescue and blue bunchgrass. It is native to western North America, where it is widespread and common. It can be found in many ecosystems, from shady forests to open plains grasslands. This fescue is a densely-clumping long-lived perennial grass with stems from about 30 to 80 centimeters in height. The stiff, short, rolling leaves are mostly located near the base of the tuft. The inflorescence has hairy spikelets which produce large awned fruits. The root system is thick and penetrates deeply into the soil. The roots have symbiotic mycorrhizae. There are no rhizomes; the plant reproduces from seeds and from budding with tillers. This is a nutritious and preferred forage grass for wild and domestic animals.

Festuca occidentalis is a species of grass known by the common name western fescue. It is native to much of the northern half of North America and is most widely distributed in the west. It is most often found in forest and woodland habitat. This fescue is a densely or loosely clumping grass with very thin stems reaching maximum heights of around one meter. The soft leaves reach up to about 25 meters in length and are somewhat hairlike. The inflorescence has one or two very thin branches bearing spikelets 6 to 12 millimeters long. There are no rhizomes.

Festuca ovina - Sheep's Fescue or Sheep Fescue is a species of grass. It is a perennial plant sometimes found in acidic bogs, for example in the Portlethen Moss, Scotland and mountain pasture, throughout Europe (with the exception of some Mediterranean areas) and eastwards across much of Asia; it has also been introduced to eastern North America. It is sometimes used as a drought-tolerant lawn grass.

Festuca rubra is a species of grass known by the common name red fescue. It is found worldwide and can tolerate many habitats and climates; it generally needs full sun to thrive. It is a nutritious and palatable forage grass for domestic and wild animals. It is used as a turfgrass and groundcover. There are many subspecies and many cultivars have been bred.

Festuca subulata is a species of 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 found in moist mountain forests. This fescue is a loosely clumping perennial grass with small rhizomes. The stems are generally between 40 and 80 centimeters in height and have drooping leaves. The inflorescence has loosely clustered spikelets. The plant reproduces by seed and rhizome and it sometimes spreads via stolon.

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