126 F. ELATIOR, L. TALL MEADOW FESCUE. 



FESTUCA, L. FESCUE. 



Spikelets 3 or more flowered, subterete, in a compact or 

 slightly spreading panicle, rachilla jointed above the empty 

 glumes and between the flowers ; flowers perfect or rarely stami- 

 nate, empty glumes, persistent, unequal, shorter than the lowest 

 floral acute, keeled, the outer 1-nerved, the inner larger, 

 usually 3-nerved. Floral glumes narrow with 3-5 obscure 

 nerves, acute, mucronate or awned at or near the tips. Palea 

 shorter, 2-nerved. Lodicules 2, notched. Stamens 1-3. Styles 

 short, terminal, distinct ; stigmas feathery. Caryopsis oblong or 

 linear, more or less adherent to the floral glume and palea. 

 Many are tufted perennials; leaves flat, covolute when dry, or 

 narrow and permanently conduplicate. The glumes are longer 

 and more pointed than in Poa, otherwise the two genera blend 

 together. 



About 80 distinct species, many of which are quite variable. 

 Found in arctic, cold, and temperate regions. 



F. elatior, L. Tall Meadow Fescue, Randall Grass, Ever- 

 green Grass. A perennial, 2-4 ft. hi., usually tufted. Leaves 

 broad, flat, panicle narrow, erect or nodding, 5-9 in. Spikelets 

 3-7-flowered, about | in. Floral glume pointed, 5-ribbed. When 

 the panicle is much branched the glumes are narrower and more 

 pointed, and the ribs less distinct. 



This is a very variable perennial, two to four or even five feet 

 in height, generally growing in tufts or bunches, which from 

 year to year creep slowly upward, as the new growth springs 

 from the side of the old culms, a little above that of the previous 

 year. 



The roots are stout and woody, with a slight tendency to 

 sucker. The leaves are rather firm, flat, varying much in length 

 and breadth, but often one to two feet long. 



The nodding, spreading panicle somewhat resembles that of a 



