Relatives

Festuca rupicola Heuff. - Furrowed fescue.

Taxonomical position.

Family Poaceae Benth. Genera Festuca L.

Synonyms.

Festuca valesiaca subsp. sulcata (Hack.) Schniz et R. Keller Sheep's fescue

Morphology and biology.

Perennial cereal. The plant forms dense tussocks. Stalks smooth, 15-50 cm in height. Leaves setiform, sometimes threadlike, 0.4-1.1 mm in diameter. Panicle friable, 2-8 cm in length; branchlets rough. Spikelets green, 6.5-8.5 mm in length. The bottom floral scales are lanceolate, 4.8-5.5 mm in length, with awn 0.5-2.5 mm in length. Blossoms in May-July. Anemophilous. 2n=42.

Distribution.

Occurs throughout the European part of the former USSR, the Caucasus, Western Siberia, Central Asia and Central Europe.

Ecology.

Occurs on stony slopes and rocks, in wood glades, in rarefied woods, and in steppes.

Use and economic value.

Fodder plant.

Literature cited:

Grossheim A.A. 1939. Flora of the Caucasus. Vol. 2. Polypodiaceae - Gramineae. Baku, Publishing House AzFaN, 587 pages.
Malyshev L.I., Peshkova G.A., eds. 1990. Flora of Siberia. Vol. 2. Poaceae (Gramineae). Novosibirsk: Nauka, 361 pages.
Shelyag-Sosonko Yu.R., ed. 1977. Cereals of Ukraine. Kiev: Naukova Dumka, 518 pages.
Tzvelev N.N. 1976. Cereals of the USSR. Leningrad: Nauka, 788 pages.

© Malyshev L.L.

Copyright on the photos belongs to E. Dzyubenko.