Scientific Name
Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort., nom. cons. (Synonyms: Festuca arundinacea; Lolium arundinaceum; Schedonorus phoenix
Common Name(s)
Tall fescue
Tribe / Family Name
Poeae
Flowering Period
June to August
Symbol
SCAR7
Description
Tall fescue is an introduced cool-season perennial bunchgrass, but can sometimes be rhizomatous. Culms are usually up to 150 cm in height. Its inflorescence is a narrow to open panicle 10–35 cm long and often somewhat nodding. Spikelets are 8–15.5 mm long, 3- to 6(9)-flowered, and awned (the lemma awns up to 4 mm long and terminal or subterminal). Auricles are up to 0.7 mm long with hairy margins. Ligules are sometimes up to 2 mm long, membranous, truncate, entire, and glabrous.
General Info
This robust, long-lived bunchgrass can be found along roadsides and ditch banks, in moist meadows, irrigated pastures, hay fields, lawns, foothills, plains, and montane sites.
Similar Species
Tall fescue is very distinctive and not easily confused with other grasses. However, it may be confused with meadow fescue (Schedonorus pratensis). Tall fescue has auricles that are ciliate, and meadow fescue has auricles that are glabrous. Also, tall fescue usually has longer awns when present and is larger, in most regards, than meadow fescue.
Picture of growth habit.
Inflorescence is a narrow to open panicle (often nodding).
Close-up picture of spikelet.
Close-up picture of ligule and hairy auricles.
Illustration of tall fescue. USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA NRCS. <i>Wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species</i>. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.