tall fescue
Family
PoaceaeScientific Name
Schedonorus arundinaceusOther Common Names:
alta fescue
course fescue
reed fescue
Synonyms (former Scientific Names):
Festuca arundinacea
Schedonorus phoenix
Festuca elatior
Festuca fenas
Festuca uechtritziana
Lolium arundinaceum
Habit
A clumping grass with fibrous root system. Clumps enlarge by tilling but this species reproduces by seed.
Leaves
Leaves are fairly broad and rolled in the bud with short blunt auricles fringed with short hairs.
Identifying Characteristics
Many varieties of tall fescue are infected with an endophyte that can be toxic to livestock but allows the plant to be more tolerant to drought.
Flower Seed Head
Flowers early to midsummer and seed heads persist in to the fall. Seed head is a panicle.
Seed Fruit
The fruit a spikelet contains 3-8 lance shaped seeds that are 7 mm in length.
Life Cycle
perennial
Plant Type
Grass