Sheep fescue, a perennial and, under range conditions, a typical bunch grass, 

 is not only a valuable range forage species but also an important cultivated 

 pasture plant. The name sheep fescue is a literal translation of the scientific 

 name for this grass, and is most appropriate, since its large volume of fine 

 leaves is much relished by sheep. 



Hitchcock 1 states that the typical Old World form of sheep fescue, as 

 described by the great Swedisli botanist, Linnaeus, "is the representative of a 

 large group of varieties or closely allied species in Europe." The grass is 

 very widely distributed, being native in the northern hemisphere of the Old 

 World, and apparently in the New World as well. It exists in several varie- 

 ties or forms in the Western States. Some of these variations (accorded 

 specific or varietal rank by some botanists) resemble sheep fescue so closely 

 that it is difficult to distinguish them from the species and, if such forms are 

 included in its range, sheep fescue may be considered as occurring in all the 

 11 far Western States. Sheep fescue, although widely distributed, is abun- 

 dant only locally. It is one of the dominant, grasses in the Beartooth Moun- 

 tains in Montana, on the Powell Plateau in Utah, and in similar localities at 

 the higher altitudes, from 7,000 to 11,000 feet, in Colorado. In eastern Oregon, 

 however, its altitudinal range descends to at least as- low as 3,500 feet. Open 

 hillsides, benchlands, parks, meadows, open woodlands, and lightly timbered 

 areas are common habitats ; dry, sandy, gravelly, or rocky soils seem to be 

 preferred, although this grass is also found on the finer and moister clay 

 soils, or occasionally even in marshy areas. It often grows in association 

 with other bunchgrasses and with such browse as rabbitbrush and sagebrush, 

 and with such herbs as asters and geraniums. 



Sheep fescue is a valuable forage grass for all classes of livestock. It 

 is one of the first range grasses to green up and be ready for grazing in early 

 spring, and it is especially palatable at that time. Its very numerous, fine 

 leaves remain green and comparatively tender until late in the fall, and its 

 value as forage continues- until that time. Its extensive root system makes 

 it fairly resistant to drought and trampling; the absence of underground 

 stems, however, and its lack of strong seed habits make difficult, if not im- 

 possible, the maintenance of good stands under excessive grazing. 



Eeseeding experiments with sheep fescue on mountain ranges in the west- 

 ern United States 2 have not been very promising. It is, however, frequently 

 cultivated as a pasture or lawn grass, and succeeds better than many other 

 grasses where the soil is sandy or gravelly and rather poor. It tends to be 

 more bunchy than is desirable when grown alone, but in mixture with other 

 grasses it helps to make a durable ground cover. As a pasture grass it is 

 adapted to about the same general climatic conditions as Kentucky bluegrass 

 (Poa> pratensis), and can be grown as far north as agriculture is- practiced. 



The very fine, inrolled, very numerous and mostly basal leaves of sheep 

 fescue are bluish green when fresh, but the stubbed-off dried leaves of former 

 years tend to remain and together make up a very characteristic and compact 

 tuft from 2 to 7 inches high. The smooth, slender stalks extend up above this 

 basal clump, usually being from 7 to 16 inches tall, though they occasion;; lly 

 attain a height as great as 2 feet. Except for being smaller, and with rather 

 shorter and more conspicuously basal leaves, sheep fescue is similar in ap- 

 pearance to Idaho fescue (jP. idahoensis). Hard fescue (F. ovina durius'cula, 

 syn. F. durius'cula), a variety of sheep fescue, is sometimes cultivated as a 

 pasture grass in this country. As 1 its name indicates, its leaves tend to be 

 somewhat tougher than those of sheep fescue. 



Sheep fescue flowers from June to September, and disseminates its seed 

 from August to October. Since there are no underground stems (rootstocks, 

 or rhizomes), reproduction is solely by seed. There is some vegetative 

 enlargement of the bunches by tillering. 



1 Hitchcock, A. S. THE GENKHA OF GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATBS, WITH SPECIAL 

 REFERENCE TO THE ECONOMIC SPECIES. U. S. Dept. Agr. Bull. 772, 307 pp., illus. 1920. 



2 Forsling, C. L., and Dayton, W. A. ARTIFICIAL RESEEDING ON WESTERN MOUNTAIN 

 RANGE LANDS. U. S. Dept. Agr. Circ. 178, 48 pp., illus. 1931. 



