HOW TO KNOW THE GRASSES 



100a. Ligule very short, less than 1 mm. long. 



101 



100b. Ligules 2 — 4 mm. long. Fig. 136. 



Festuca thurberi Vasey 



Perennial; densely tufted; culms rather 

 stout, 60 — 100 cm. tall. The involute leaves 

 are scabrous. Panicles 10 — 15 cm. long, the 

 branches separate or paired, as much as 8 

 cm. long, and bearing spikelets only near 

 their ends. The long ligule is characteristic. 

 Dry rocky slopes, 2500 — 3500 m. . elevation. 

 Forage value good. July — August. 



Figure 136 



10 la. Leaves soft, green. Fig. 137. 



Festuca viridula Vasey 



Figure 137 



Perennial; in dense tufts; culms 50 — 100 

 cm. tall; panicles open, 10 — 15 cm. long; 

 branches mostly paired, 2 — 4 cm. long; leaf 

 blades soft, folded or rolled; spikelets with 

 3 — 6 florets; lemmas 6 — 8 mm. long. The 

 lemmas are softer than those of other spe- 

 cies of fescue, and frequently hove some 

 purpHsh coloration. Well drained soils in 

 the spruce-fir forests near timberline; moun- 

 tainsides, parks, and meadows. Green fes- 

 cue is one of the best forage grasses of the 

 Northwest. It is high in palatability and nu- 

 tritive value, and is eaten throughout the 

 grazing season by all classes of livestock, 

 July — September. 



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