Festuca rubra L.

Graminae

Synonyms

There are many subspecies adapted to several oligotrophic, mesotrophic, salted, environments. It is the subsp. rubra that is described here.

Common names

Red fescue (English), Fétuque rouge (French), Roter schwingel (German).

Description

Perennial plant, small size, hairless, cespitous or rhizomatous. Stems erect, 20 - 70 (- 100) cm high. Needle blade when young. Blade long, narrow, in needle at least on the bottom leaves. Blade flat, very veined on the upper leaves. Blade dark green. Ligule very short. Auricles reduced to minute excrescence. Panicle-like inflorescence, spreading, often reddish. Spikelets with 4-8 aristate flowers, 7-12 mm long. Upper glume pointed, lemma ciliate or aristate. The weight of 1000 seeds is 0.9 to 1. 1 g (average seeds). Chromosome number: 2n = 42 or 56 (hexaploid or heptaploid). Physiological peculiarities: Maximum number of leaves per tiller: 5.0.

Habitat

Found on dunes, salt marshes and cliffs.

Temperature

Large range in climates of the temperate area. Tolerates cold very well.

Water

Good drought resistance. 

Soil

Large range for soil humidity. Optimum on soils moderately provided in nutrients (mesotrophic). Disappears when an important fertilisation is applied. On all soils types.

Distribution

Native to Europe and/or temperate Asia according to the subspecies. Some subspecies are native to North America. Has become subcosmopolitan in temperate regions. From the sea level to high altitudes in mountain areas.

References