Festuca occidentalis
Festuca arizonica
western fescue
Arizona fescue, pinegrass
(25)40-80(110) cm, glabrous, smooth.
35-80 (100) cm, usually densely scabrous or densely pubescent below the inflorescences.
closed for much less than 1/2 their length, glabrous, somewhat persistent or slowly shredding into fibers;
collars glabrous;
ligules 0.1-0.4 mm, usually longer at the sides;
blades all alike, 0.3-0.7 mm in diameter, conduplicate, abaxial surfaces smooth or scabridulous, veins (3)5, ribs 1-5;
abaxial sclerenchyma in 5-7 narrow strands, about as wide as the adjacent veins;
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)10-20 cm, open, with 1-2 branches per node;
branches 1-15 cm, lax, widely spreading to reflexed, lower branches usually reflexed at maturity, 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.
6-12 mm, with 3-6(7) florets.
(6)8-16 mm, with (3)4-6(8) florets.
exceeded by the upper florets, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, glabrous and smooth or slightly scabrous;
lower glumes 2-5 mm;
upper glumes 3-6 mm;
lemmas (4)4.5-6.5(8) mm, ovate-lanceolate to attenuate, glabrous or finely puberulent, awns 3-12 mm, usually longer than the lemma bodies;
paleas slightly shorter than the lemmas, intercostal region scabrous or puberulent distally;
anthers (1)1.5-2(3) mm;
ovary apices densely pubescent.
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 [other numbers have been reported for this species, but are probably based on misidentifications].
= 42.
Festuca occidentalis
Festuca arizonica
Festuca occidentalis grows in dry to moist, open woodlands, forest openings, and rocky slopes, up to 3100 m. It extends from southern Alaska and northern British Columbia to southwestern Alberta, south to southern California and eastward to Wyoming, and, as a disjunct, around the upper Great Lakes in Ontario, eastern Wisconsin, and Michigan. It is sometimes important as a forage grass, but is usually not sufficiently abundant.
(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.)
- Local floras:
BC, 
CA, 
OR, 
WA - Local Web sites: CalFlora, CalPhotos,
Flora NW, 
MI Flora, 
PNW Herbaria 
WildflowerSearch
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USDA Plants Database- LBJ Wildflower Center
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