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Festuca

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Paul Drye (talk | contribs) at 01:26, 14 February 2007 (Removing silly section apparently inspired by the French word "fesses" i.e., "buttocks".). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Fescue
Meadow Fescue (Festuca pratensis)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
Division:
Magnoliophyta
Class:
Liliopsida
Order:
Poales
Family:
Poaceae
Genus:
Festuca

Species

See text

Fescue (Festuca) is a genus of about 300 species of tufted grasses, belonging to the grass family Poaceae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution, although the majority of the species are found in cool temperate areas. The genus is closely related to ryegrass (Lolium) and is incorporated within that genus by some botanists.

Fescues range from small grasses only 100 mm tall or less with very fine thread-like leaves less than 1 mm wide, to tall grasses up to 2 m tall with large leaves up to 600 mm long and 20 mm broad.

Fescue pollen is a significant contributor to hay fever.

Uses

The fescues contain some species which are important grasses for both lawns (particularly the fine-leaved species, highly valued for bowling greens) and as pasture and hay for livestock, being a highly nutritious stock feed. They are also used in soil erosion control programs.

Fescues are colloquially known in the Northeastern United States, particularly around golf courses, as "fellescue".[citation needed]

Fescue is sometimes used as feed for horses. However, fescue poisoning, which results from a fungus, is a risk for pregnant mares. Occurring in the last three months of pregnancy, fescue poisoning increases the risk of spontaneous abortion, stillbirths, retained placenta, absent milk production, and prolonged pregnancy.

Species

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Festuca glauca.
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