398 



Bulletin No. 205 



[March, 



Festuca obtusa Spreng. 



Nodding Fescue (Figs. 246 and 247) 



Festuca nutans, Engelmann '44, 103; Lapham '57, 547, 582 (Plate 3, Kg. 1) ; 

 Babcock '73, 97; Patterson '76, 51; Flagg '78, 282; Brendel '87, 64; Higley and 

 Piaddin '91, 145. 



Culms single or a few together, 1 to 3 feet tall ; sheaths often 

 slightly pubescent ; blades rough above, 4 to 12 inches long, 4 to 7 nun. 

 v/ide ; panicle usually nodding, the branches bearing spikelets near the 

 ends ; spikelets 3- to 5-flowered, typically 3-flowered, 5 to 7 mm. long, 

 always much longer than broad ; lemmas about 4 mm. long with a 

 thin white or transparent margin ; second glume 3 mm. long. 



This is a native species which is found in damp or shady woods 

 and thickets. 



ILLINOIS SPECIMENS: Without locality, Vasey. champaign co. Urbana, 

 iVaite, June, 1886; Urbana, Clinton, May, 1898; Mahomet, Wright, June, 1898; 

 Mahomet, Clinton, May, 1900. christian co. Taylorville, Andrews. DU PAGa: 

 (0. Hinsdale, Srnith, June, 1903; Wheatland, Umliach, July, 1898; Naperville, 

 Umbach, July, 1898. jack.son co. Without locality, Lapham in 1857. .70 daviess 

 CO. Without locality, Pepoon. Henderson co. Oquawka, Patterson, June, 1874. 

 LA SALLE CO. Near Starved Eock, A. Chase, July, 1901. mchenry CO. Algon- 

 quin, Nason. macoupin co. Carlinville, Eohertson in 1898. marion co. With- 

 out locality, M. S. Bebb in 1860. Marshall co. Near Lawn Eidge, V. H. Chase 

 1493. mason CO. Without locality, Clolcey. peoria co. Princeville, V. H. Chase, 

 June, 1897; Peoria, McDonald, June, 1890; Peoria, Brendel. piatt co. White 

 Heath, Mos/te?-, May, 1914. ST. clair co. Mni^coutah, Welsch. stark (O. Woods 

 along Spoon river, V. If. Chase 1448. vermilion f o. Muncie, Mosher, May, 1914. 

 WABASH CO. Without locality. Shearer, will co. Joliet, Skeels, June, 1904. 



246 / 246 



Figs. 24.5-251. — 245, F. elatior, spikelet ; 246, F. nutans, inflorescence; 247, 

 7'\ nutans, spikelet; 248, F. ovina, spikelet; 249, F. octoflora, spikelct; 250, 

 F. shortii, inflorescence; 251, F. shortii, spikelet 



Festuca octoflora Walt. 



Slender Fescue (Fig. 249) 



Festuca tenella, Lapham '57, 547, 581; Patterson '76, 51; Plagg '78, 282; 

 Brendel '87, 64; Higley and Eaddin '91, 145; Huett '97, 130. Festuca octoflora, 

 Gleason '10, 149; Gates, '12, 355. 



