Festuca rubra
| Red Fescue | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| (unranked): | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Genus: | Festuca |
| Species: | F. rubra |
| Binomial name | |
| Festuca rubra L. |
|
Festuca rubra is a species of grass known by the common name red fescue or creeping red fescue. It is found worldwide and can tolerate many habitats and climates. It is best adapted to well-drained soils in cool, temperate climates; it prefers shadier areas and is often planted for its shade tolerance[1][2]. It is a nutritious and palatable forage grass for domestic and wild animals, but has not been important for forage due to low productivity and palatability[1]. It is also an ornamental plant for gardens.
Contents |
[edit] Description
Festuca rubra is perennial and has sub-species forms that have rhizomes and/or forms bunchgrass tufts. It mainly exists in neutral and acidic soils. It can grow between 2 and 20 cm tall.
Like all fescues, the leaves are narrow and needle like, making it less palatable to livestock The swards that it forms are not as tufted as Sheep's Fescue (Festuca ovina) or wavy hair grass (Deschampsia flexuosa). The tufted nature is what gives the grass its springy characteristic. The leaves are bright green.
There are 4 to 10 spikelet flowers, which are up to 15mm long.
The ligule is very short and blunt.[3]
[edit] Cultivation
Festuca rubra, as red fescue or creeping red fescue, is cultivated as an ornamental plant for use as a turfgrass and groundcover. It can be left completely unmowed, or occasionally trimmed for a lush meadow-like look. There are many subspecies, and many cultivars have been bred for the horticulture trade.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Plant Fact Sheet - Creeping Red Fescue". United States Department of Agriculture. http://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_ferua3.pdf. Retrieved January 16 2012.
- ^ "Healthy Lawns - Red Fescue". University of California. http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/TOOLS/TURF/TURFSPECIES/redfes.html. Retrieved January 16 2012.
- ^ Identification, UK: BSBI, http://www.bsbi.org.uk/identification.html, retrieved 2010-11-16.
[edit] External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Festuca rubra |
- Jepson Manual Treatment: Festuca rubra
- USDA Plants Profile - Festuca rubra
- Tips for Fine Fall Fescue
- Ecology
- Festuca rubra - U.C. Photo gallery
- Horticulural information on this turfgrass
- Skye Flora
| This Pooideae article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
