Contains 10 accepted taxa overall.
Characteristics
Vulpia is generally included in Festuca but Lolium may also become synonymous (Díaz-Pérez et al. 2014; Inda et al. 2014; Soreng et al. 2015; Cheng et al. 2016). Being published simultaneously, Lolium and Festuca would have equal priority until an author establishes one over the other (Art. 11.5), although retaining the much larger genus Festuca would probably be more practical. Columbus & Smith, Jr. (2010) favored the use of Festuca and treating Lolium as its synonym.
Classification
Citation
FESTUCA Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 73. 1753.
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TYPE: Festuca ovina Linnaeus 1753. Lectotypified by Nash, in Britton & A. Brown, Ill. Fl. N. U.S., ed. 2. 1: 269. 1913.
Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Herbarium Specimens | Status | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Festuca bromoides | European Squirrel-tail Fescue, Brome Fescue | |||
| Festuca myuros | Rat-tail Fescue | |||
| Festuca octoflora var. octoflora | Southern Six-weeks Fescue | |||
| Festuca octoflora var. tenella | Northern Six-weeks Fescue | |||
| Festuca paradoxa | Cluster Fescue | |||
| Festuca rubra | Red Fescue | |||
| Festuca sciurea | Squirrel-tail Fescue | |||
| Festuca subverticillata | Nodding Fescue | |||
| Festuca thurberi | Thurber's Fescue | |||
| Festuca trachyphylla | Hard Fescue |
Identification Key
1. Perennial; spikelets 4-5(7) mm long, with 2-4 florets; anthers 3
1. Annual (perennial); spikelets 3.5-12 mmm long, with 3-11(17) florets; anthers 1(3)
2
2. Lower glume 0.5-2 mm long, <1/2 the length of the upper glume
2. Lower glume 1.5-5 mm long, >1/2 the length of the upper glume
3
3. Lemmas 2.5-5 mm long, the apices more pubescent than the bases; caryopses 1.5-2.5 mm long
3. Lemmas 2.7-9.5 mm long, if pubescent, the apices no more so than the bases but occasionally ciliate; caryopses 1.7-6.5 mm long
4
4. Inflorescence nodes with 1 branch; spikelets with (1)4-8 florets, the internodes 0.6-1.1 mm long; caryopses 3.5-5 mm long
4. Inflorescence nodes with 1-2 branches; spikelets with (4)5-11(17) florets, the internodes 0.5-0.7 mm long; caryopses 1.7-3.7 mm long
Genus Synonyms
| Synonym | Full Citation | Basionym | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| No synonyms found. | |||