Festuca paradoxa
Festuca arizonica
cluster fescue
Arizona fescue, pinegrass
50-120 cm, glabrous.
35-80 (100) cm, usually densely scabrous or densely pubescent below the inflorescences.
closed for less than 1/3 their length, glabrous, shredding into fibers;
Iigules (0.2)0.5-1.5 mm;
blades 2-8 mm wide, flat or loosely convolute, smooth or scabrous, veins 9-35, ribs obscure;
abaxial sclerenchyma in narrow strands;
adaxial sclerenchyma developed;
girders or pillars usually associated with the major veins.
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 lax, ascending to spreading, spikelets clustered towards the ends of the branches, closely imbricate.
(4)6-15(20) cm, loosely contracted or open, with 1-2 branches per node;
branches erect or spreading, lower branches with 2+ spikelets.
4-7(7.5) mm, elliptic to obovate, with 3-5(8) florets.
(6)8-16 mm, with (3)4-6(8) florets.
lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, scabrous at least on the veins;
lower glumes (2.5)3-4(5) mm, usually almost as long as the adjacent lemmas;
upper glumes (3.5)4-5(5.5) mm;
lemmas 4-5(5.2) mm, stiffly chartaceous, ovate to obovate, glabrous, somewhat acute, unawned;
paleas as long as or slightly shorter than the lemmas, intercostal region smooth or scabrous distally;
anthers (0.7)1-2(2.5) mm;
ovary apices 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.
= unknown.
= 42.
Festuca paradoxa
Festuca arizonica
Festuca paradoxa grows in prairies, open woods, thickets, and low open ground, from Wisconsin to Pennsylvania, south to northeastern Texas and northern Georgia. It resembles F. subverticillata (see previous), but its spikelets are more crowded on the branches.
(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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