Festuca idahoensis
Festuca arizonica
blue bunchgrass, blue fescue, bluebunch fescue, Idaho fescue
Arizona fescue, pinegrass
25-85 (100) cm, usually smooth, glabrous, occasionally scabrous below the inflorescences.
35-80 (100) cm, usually densely scabrous or densely pubescent below the inflorescences.
closed for less than 1/2 their length, smooth or scabrous, rarely pilose, persistent;
collars glabrous;
ligules 0.2-0.6 mm;
blades (0.3)0.5-0.9(1.5) mm in diameter, conduplicate, abaxial surfaces smooth or scabrous, adaxial surfaces scabrous or pubescent, rarely pilose, often glaucous or bluish, veins (3)5(7), ribs (1)3-5, well defined;
abaxial sclerenchyma in 5-7 wide, irregular strands;
adaxial sclerenchyma absent.
closed for less than 1/2 their length, glabrous, smooth or scabrous, persistent;
collars glabrous, smooth or scabrous;
ligules 0.5-1.5(2) mm;
blades 0.3-0.8 mm in diameter, conduplicate, abaxial surfaces scabrous or puberulent, adaxial surfaces scabrous to pubescent, veins 5-7, ribs (1)3-5(7), distinct;
abaxial sclerenchyma in 5-7 broad strands, rarely forming a complete band, forming pillars with some veins;
adaxial sclerenchyma not developed.
(5)7-15(20) cm, loosely contracted or open, with 1-2 branches per node;
branches usually somewhat spreading at maturity, sometimes erect, rarely reflexed, lower branches with 2+ spikelets.
(4)6-15(20) cm, loosely contracted or open, with 1-2 branches per node;
branches erect or spreading, lower branches with 2+ spikelets.
(5.8) 7.5-13.5(19) mm, with (2)4-7(9) florets.
(6)8-16 mm, with (3)4-6(8) florets.
exceeded by the upper florets, ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, mostly smooth, sometimes scabrous distally;
lower glumes 2.4-5(6) mm;
upper glumes 3-6(8) mm;
lemmas 5-8.5(10) mm, scabrous at the apices, awns (1.5)3-6(7) mm, usually more than 1/2 as long as the lemma bodies;
paleas shorter than to about as long as the lemmas, intercostal region scabrous or puberulent distally;
anthers 2.4-4.5 mm;
ovary apices glabrous.
exceeded by the upper florets, lanceolate, glabrous, smooth or scabrous distally;
lower glumes (3)3.3-5.5 mm;
upper glumes 4.5-6.6(7) mm;
lemmas 5.5-9 mm, glabrous, smooth or scabrous towards the apices, unawned or awned, awns 0.4-2(3) mm;
paleas slightly shorter than the lemmas, intercostal region scabrous or puberulent distally;
anthers (2)3-4(4.2) mm;
ovary apices densely pubescent.
= 28.
= 42.
Festuca idahoensis
Festuca arizonica
Festuca idahoensis grows in grasslands, open forests, and sagebrush meadow communities, mostly east of the Cascade Mountains, from southern British Columbia eastward to southwestern Saskatchewan and southward to central California and New Mexico. It extends up to 3000 m in the southern part of its range. It is often a dominant plant, and provides good forage. The young foliage is particularly palatable.
Festuca idahoensis differs from F. arizonica (see previous), with which it is sometimes confused, in its less prominently ribbed blades and glabrous ovary apices. It has frequently been included in F. ovina (p. 422).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Festuca arizonica grows in dry meadows and openings of montane forests, in gravelly, rocky soil, at 2100-3400 m. Its range extends from southern Nevada and southern Utah east to Colorado and south to Arizona, western Texas, and northern Mexico. It is abundant and valuable forage in some parts of its range. It is often found with F. calligera (see previous).
Festuca arizonica differs from F. idahoensis (see next), with which it is sometimes confused, in its prominently ribbed blades and pubescent ovary apices. It has frequently been included in F. ovina (p. 422).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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OR, 
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