Festuca subverticillata

Species category

Revegetation or Rangeland 

Common name

nodding fescue

Diagnostic characters

Planting unit

FloretFloret:
A small flower in a clustered inflorescence (e.g., sunflower, grasses). In grasses, a floret consists of the lemma, palea, stamens, and pistil.

Shape

Lanceolate

Size

  • Length 3.7–4 mm 
  • Width 1–1.2 mm 
  • Thickness 1–1.2 mm 

Color

Light brown with dark color of caryopsisCaryopsis:
The single-seeded fruit or grain of the grass family (Poaceae); the fruit wall (pericarp) is united with the seed coat (testa).
showing through.

Texture

Smooth 

Lemma

Awnless 

Palea

Margins of palea scabrousScabrous:
Rough to the touch, covered with minute points of very short, stiff hairs.

Other structures

Identification notes

RachillaRachilla:
The axis of a spikelet.
with flared apexApical:
The distal end of the fruit or seed away from the point of attachment or attachment scar.
. Indentation above the callusCallus:
The hard base of grass florets or spikelets, just above the point of disarticulation.
.

Noxious weed seed categories

Not listed

AOSA examination list

Not included

Nomenclature

Family

Poaceae

Valid name

Festuca subverticillata (Pers.) Alexeev

Synonyms

Festuca obtusa Biehler

 Festuca subverticillata.  Florets are light brown with the dark color of the caryopsis showing through. 
Festuca subverticillata. Florets are light brown with the dark color of the caryopsis showing through.