G62 



SHEEP FESCUE 



Festu'ca ovi'na, syn. F. saximonta'na 



Flower head (panicle) contracted after 

 flowering, usually 2 to 4 in. long, with 

 rather short, more or less 1-sided, 

 mostly solitary, ascending branches 



Stalks (culms) tufted, erect, from 6 

 to 24 in. high, rigid, smooth and hairless 



Lower flower bract (lemma) 

 , amooth, pointed and with a 

 usually short bristle (awn) 

 at tho tip 



Individual flower groups 



(spikelets) 3- to 9-flowered, 

 about y t in. long 



'Lowest (2) spikelet bracts (glumes) 

 leathery in texture, unequal in length, 

 pointed at tips; 1st, 1-veined, 2d, 

 3-veined 



Leaves mainly basal, very narrow, 

 bristlelike or cylindrical, firm, 2 to 5 

 in. long, rough on the margins; stem 

 leaves few and very short 



Roots numerous, finely fibrous; root- 

 stocks lacking 



