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Festuca pratensis Huds.

Overview
General Information
ID Info
Similar Species
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Aperçu
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Family :

Famille :

Poaceae

Synonym(s) :

Synonyme(s) :

Festuca elatior auct. Amer. (USDA-ARS 2022)
Lolium pratense (Huds.) Darbysh. (USDA-ARS 2022)
Schedonorus pratensis (Huds.) P. Beauv.                         (Barkworth et al. 2007)

Common Name(s) :

Nom(s) commun(s) :

Meadow fescue

(English) (Wiersema and León 1999; Barkworth et al. 2007; AOSA 2021; CFIA 2021)

Ängssvingel (Swedish) (USDA-ARS 2022)

Cañuela de los prados (Spanish) (Wiersema and León 1999)

Cao dian yang mao (草甸羊茅) (Chinese) (eFloras 2022)

English-bluegrass (English) (USDA-ARS 2022)

Festuca pratense (Italian) (USDA-ARS 2022)

Festuca-dos-prados (Portuguese) (Wiersema and León 1999)

Fétuque des prés (French) (Wiersema and León 1999; Barkworth et al. 2007)

Neoleungimuiteol (Transcribed Korean) (USDA-ARS 2022)

Wiesenschwingel (German) (Wiersema and León 1999)

Meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis)  florets

  • Meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis)  florets

  • Meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis) floret

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Overview

Aperçu

Regulation :

Remarques Réglementation:

  • USA Federal Noxious Weed Seed List

Regulation Notes:

Classified as a noxious weed seed or undesirable grass species when found as a contaminant in grass seed marketed for lawn or turf purposes in certain US states (Delaware, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia) (USDA-AMS 2022).

Distribution :

Répartition :

Festuca pratensis is native to North Africa, temperate Asia, Pakistan, and Europe, and is widely naturalized elsewhere (USDA-ARS 2022). The exact native range of this species is uncertain due to its agricultural use as a forage grass (CABI 2022). The species was widely introduced in other regions of the world in the early 1800s and 1900s as a forage, turf grass and for soil stabilization (CABI 2022).

Habitat and Crop Association :

Habitat et Cultures Associées :

In its native range, Festuca pratensis can be found in open meadows and along riverbanks (Tutin et al. 1980; CABI 2022).

Economic Use, cultivation area, and Weed Association :

Utilisation économique, zone de culture et association de mauvaises herbes :

Festuca pratensis is a cool-season, perennial bunchgrass used as a pasture grass and for erosion control (Alderson and Sharp 1995). This species was widely cultivated as a pasture grass in the late 1800s and early 1900s and is now found in most temperate parts of the world. It may have been introduced to China at this time (eFloras 2022). In areas of introduction outside its native range the species can become invasive and crowd out native species (CABI 2022). In the northeastern United States this species is classified as a noxious weed seed when found as a contaminant in turf grass seed lots (USDA-AMS 2022).

Duration of Life Cycle :

Durée du cycle vital:

Perennial

Dispersal Unit Type :

Type d’unité de dispersion :

Floret

General Information

RENSEIGNEMENTS GÉNÉRAUX

Festuca pratensis is a cool season perennial grass. Reproduction is both sexual and vegetative. The vegetative spread is via tiller and sometimes short rhizomes (US Forest Service 2016).

Fertile natural hybrids of F. pratensis and Lolium are common in Europe and artificial hybrids have been developed for the commercial market (Barkworth et al. 2007). The hybrid plants gave intermediate morphological features and are referred to as Festulolium hybrids (CABI 2022). The following natural hybrids of F. pratensis and Lolium are recognized in the GRIN Database (USDA-ARS 2022): ×Festulolium braunii (K. Richt.) A. Camus [= Festuca pratensis × Lolium multiflorum], a weed found where the two parental species are grown and ×Festulolium loliaceum (Huds.) P. Fourn. [= Festuca pratensis × Lolium perenne], a weed common in old pastures, meadows, and roadsides (USDA-ARS 2022).

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Identification

Identification

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  • Spikelet

    Size

    • Spikelet length: 8 – 17 mm; spikelet width 2 – 5 mm.*
    *Note: size range based on literature sources (Tutin et al. 1980; Barkworth et al. 2007; eFloras 2022).

    Spikelet size from literature:

    • Spikelet length (8.5)11 – 12(15) mm (Tutin et al. 1980).
    • Spikelet length (8.5)12 – 15.5(17) mm; width 2 – 5 mm (Barkworth et al. 2007).
    • Spikelet length 8 – 15 mm (eFloras 2022).

    Shape

    • Spikelet oblong to egg-shaped; laterally compressed.

    Surface Texture

    • Spikelet surface papery with a finely granular texture.

    Colour

    • Spikelet light yellow to light brown coloured.

    Other Features

    Spikelet composition

    • The spikelet is composed of 4 – 12 similar looking florets with distal floret usually sterile and slightly smaller in size**.
    **Note: spikelet composition based on literature sources (Tutin et al. 1980; Barkworth et al. 2007; eFloras 2022).

    Spikelet composition from literature:

    • Spikelet with 5 – 12 florets (Tutin et al. 1980).
    • Spikelet with (2) 4 – 10 (12) florets (Barkworth et al. 2007).
    • Spikelet with (2) 4 – 12 florets (eFloras 2022).

    Glumes

    • Glumes broadly pointed, thin and membranous towards tip.
    • Upper glume length: 3.2 – 7 mm; width: 2.4 mm (Tutin et al. 1980)

    Disarticulation

    • Disarticulation of spikelets occurs above the glumes and between the florets at the rachilla nodes.

  • Floret

    Size

    • Floret length*: 4.6 – 6.9 mm (average 5.9 mm); width: 0.9 – 1.9 mm (average 1.3 mm).
    • Rachilla length*: 1.1 – 1.7 mm (average 1.3 mm); width: 0.18 – 0.37 mm (average 0.29 mm).
    • Awn length*: 0 – 0.4 (average 0.1).
    *Note: minimum and maximum based on a combined two samples with a random selection of 24 florets in normal range of this species using image measurement protocol (ISMA 2020).

    Size measurements from literature:

    • Lemma length: (5.3) 6.5 – 7 (7.5) mm; width: 2.5 – 3 mm (Tutin et al. 1980).
    • Lemma length: 5 – 8 mm; palea slightly shorter than the lemmas; awn length: 0 – 0.2 mm (Barkworth et al. 2007).
    • Floret length: 6.5 – 7.5 mm; width: 1.4 – 1.6 mm (Bojňanský and Fargašová 2007).
    • Lemma length: (5) 6 – 8 mm; awn length: 0 – 2 mm (eFloras 2022).

    Shape

    • Floret narrowly oval to oblong shaped, widest near mid-point, not longitudinally keeled, dorsal-ventrally compressed, slightly in-rolled near base and opening broadly in upper half of floret, tip of lemma may taper abruptly to a short narrow point.

    Surface Texture

    • Lemma papery with a finely granular texture, may have short stiff hairs near apex.
    • Palea papery, coarsely granular near base and smooth and lustrous in upper half.

    Colour

    • Light yellow to light brown coloured.

    Other Features

    Lemma

    • Lemma tip blunt to slightly pointed.
    • Lemma wrapping around to partially cover margins of palea but leaving palea keels exposed.

    Awn

    • Lemma usually not awned, or if present, very short awned from tip of lemma.

    Callus

    • Callus a blunt, thick ridge, bottom edge nearly straight or irregularly puffy, often with a deep transverse indentation above upper edge.

    Rachilla

    • Rachilla slender, oval to slightly flattened in cross-section with slightly flared disk at apex, may curve to one side, smooth.
    • Rachilla may have short stiff hairs.

    Palea

    • Palea tapering to a broad pointed tip; palea about the same length as lemma; palea keels two, with short stiff hairs (palea teeth) along the keels usually only in the upper half of palea.

    Meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis)  florets

  • Caryopsis

    Size

    • Caryopsis length*: 3.0 – 3.6 mm long (average 3.4 mm); width: 1.1 – 1.3 (average 1.2 mm) mm wide.
    • Hilum length*: 2.4 – 3.3 mm (average 2.8 mm).
    Note:* Minimum and maximum based on four caryopses in a normal range of this species using image measurement protocol (ISMA 2020).

    Size measurements from literature:

    • Caryopsis length: 3 – 4 mm long; width: 1 – 1.5 mm (Barkworth et al. 2007).
    • Caryopsis length: 3.8 – 4.2 mm; width: 1.3 – 1.5 mm (Bojňanský and Fargašová 2007).

    Shape

    • Caryopsis oblong, oval, or egg-shaped, dorsal-ventrally compressed, longitudinally depressed on hilum side.

    Surface Texture

    • Caryopsis smooth to slightly rough, lemma and/or palea may be adherent.

    Colour

    • Caryopsis brown, sometimes with purplish tinge.

    Other Features

    • Hilum linear, located in a longitudinal depression, extending about four-fifths the length of the caryopsis from the base.
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  • Embryo

    Size

    • Embryo length*: 0.8 – 1.0 mm (average 0.9 mm).
    • Embryo one-fourth the length of caryopsis.
    Note:* Minimum and maximum based on embryos of four caryopses in a normal range of this species using image measurement protocol (ISMA 2020).

    Shape

    • Embryo teardrop-shaped.

    Endosperm

    • Endosperm solid (Terrell 1971).

    Other Features

    • Embryo position lateral.

Identification Tips

CONSEILS POUR L’IDENTIFICATION

  • Dispersal units of Festuca pratensis (florets and caryopses) are similar to those of other Festuca species and Lolium perenne. In particular the plants, including the floral parts are very similar looking to Festuca arundinacea (tall fescue); however, F. pratensis has more florets per spikelet, but the florets are generally smaller than those of F. arundinacea (CABI 2022).
  • The lemmas of F. pratensis and Lolium perenne are smooth, may have some short stiff hairs near the margins and apex, and they are usually unawned, whereas the lemmas in F. arundinacea are rough granular textured and usually awned.
  • The paleas of F. pratensis and L. perenne are coarsely granular textured in the lower half and smooth and lustrous in the upper half, whereas the entire palea surface in F. arundinacea is coarsely granular textured.
  • The rachilla segments of F. arundinacea are straight and cylindrical, in Lolium perenne flat and strap-like, and in F. pratensis they are oval to somewhat flattened and are straight or twisted to one side. This is a key distinguishing character among the three species for the majority of florets in the spikelet. Unfortunately, rachilla segments of the small florets from the terminal end of the spikelet in all three species are usually long and slender, rendering this feature in small florets diagnostically unreliable.
  • For further identification tips see the comparison table under the similar species section.

Meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis)  florets

Additional Botany Information

AUTRES RENSEIGNEMENTS BOTANIQUES

Flowers/Inflorescence

  • Panicle 10 – 25 cm tall; lowest node of panicle with two branches, the longer with 4 – 6 spikelets and the shorter with 1 – 3 spikelets (Tutin et al. 1980; Barkworth et al. 2007).
  • Anthers 3 (Barkworth et al. 2007).
  • Anther length (1.5)2 – 4.6 mm (Barkworth et al. 2007).
  • Ovary glabrous (Tutin et al. 1980).

Vegetative Features

  • Plants laxly tufted; stems 0.3 – 1.2 m tall, stout (Tutin et al. 1980).
  • Ligules to 0.5 mm; auricles without hairs (Tutin et al. 1980; Barkworth et al. 2007).

Similar Species

ESPÈCES SEMBLABLES

Similar species are based on a study of seed morphology of various species, and those with similar dispersal units are identified. The study is limited by physical specimen and literature availability at the time of examination, and possibly impacted by the subjectivity of the authors based on their knowledge and experience. Providing similar species information for seed identification is to make users aware of similarities that could possibly result in misidentification.

Festuca arundinacea Schreb.

Tall fescue (English) (Wiersema and León 1999; Barkworth et al. 2007; AOSA 2021; CFIA 2021)

Floret sizes for Festuca arundinacea and F. pratensis overlap, although F. arundinacea can be slightly longer (see comparison table). The lemma of F. arundinacea is rougher looking with a more granular texture and scattered short stiff hairs especially along the nerves, the tip of the floret tapers gradually to a narrow point, the palea is granular throughout, and the rachilla is cylindrical and covered with short hairs.

Lolium perenne L.

Perennial ryegrass (English) (Wiersema and León 1999; AOSA 2021; CFIA 2021)

Lolium perenne, perennial ryegrass, florets are similar in size to F. pratensis but are oblong in shape (i.e., the sides are parallel), the base of the floret is bluntly squared. The lemma is smooth, and the callus is a straight, narrow ridge. The rachilla is flat and strap-like.

Comparison of Similar Species

Festuca arundinacea Festuca pratensis Festuca rubra subsp. rubra Lolium perenne
Floret shape Narrowly tear-drop-shaped, widest near mid-point, slightly in-rolled forming a longitudinal depression of the palea of the lower half of the floret Narrowly oval to oblong, widest near mid-point, opening broadly in upper half of floret, tip of lemma may taper abruptly to a short narrow point Narrowly teardrop-shaped, widest near mid-point Oblong; sides mostly parallel, opening broadly in upper half of floret, tip usually squared or slightly rounded, but can be slightly tapered toward tip
Floret length (mm)* 4.3 – 8.2 4.6 – 6.9 3.4 – 7.7 4.1 – 9.9
Floret width (mm)* 0.9 – 1.7 0.9 – 1.9 0.7 – 1.3 0.9 – 1.9
Awn length (mm)* 0.3 – 3.3 0 – 0.4 0.3 – 2.9 Usually not awned
Caryopsis shape oblong, oval, or egg-shaped, dorsal-ventrally compressed, longitudinal depression on hilum side oblong, oval, or egg-shaped, dorsal-ventrally compressed, longitudinally depressed on hilum side narrowly oblong, oval, or egg-shaped, dorsal-ventrally compressed mostly oblong or elliptic, dorsal-ventrally compressed
Caryopsis length* (mm) 3.3 – 4.2 3.0 – 3.6 2.9 – 4.1 2.7 – 5.6
Caryopsis width (mm)* 1.1 – 1.4 1.1 – 1.3 0.8 – 1.0 1.0 – 1.7
Hilum length (mm)* 1.8 – 3.1

one-half to three-quarters the length of the caryopsis from the base

 2.4 – 3.3

about four-fifths the length of the caryopsis from the base

 2.0 – 3.1 1.8 – 3.9

about two-thirds the length of the caryopsis from the base
Lemma surface texture Coarsely granular with short stiff hairs near margins, along nerves, and near tip of lemma Smooth to finely granular; may have short stiff hairs near tip of lemma Smooth, hairless or covered with short stiff or soft hairs especially near the tip Smooth to finely granular
Palea surface texture Coarsely granular from base to tip Coarsely granular in lower half and smooth and lustrous in upper half Palea papery, coarsely granular and with tuft of short hairs near the tip Granular in lower half and smooth and lustrous in upper half
Rachilla Slender, round in cross-section with slightly flared disk at apex, straight, may be sparsely short-hairy Slender, oval to slightly flattened in cross-section with slightly flared disk at apex, may curve to one side, smooth or may have short stiff hairs Straight, slender, round in cross-section with flared disk at tip, may be covered with short hairs Flat, wide, strap-like, apex usually not flared, straight, usually smooth or may short hairs
Callus Blunt, thick ridge, slightly curved along bottom edge, often with deep transverse indentation between the upper edge and lemma Blunt, thick ridge, bottom edge nearly straight or irregularly puffy, with a deep transverse indentation between the upper edge and lemma Blunt with a thick rounded ridge on the lemma side Blunt, narrow ridge, nearly straight along bottom edge
* Minimum and maximum measurement of structures in a normal range of these species using image measurement protocol (ISMA 2020).

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Reference(s)

Référence(s)

Alderson, J. & W. C. Sharp. 1995. Grass varieties in the United States, U.S.D.A. Agric. Handbook 170, rev. ed. CRC Press.

Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSA). 2021. Rules for Testing Seeds, Vol. 3: Uniform Classification of Weed and Crop Seeds. Association of Official Seed Analysts, Washington D. C.

Barkworth, M. E., Capels, K. M., Long, S. and Piep, M. B. (eds.). 2007. Flora of North America Volume 24. Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Poaceae, part 1. Oxford University Press, New York, New York.

Bojňanský, V. and Fargašová, A. 2007. Atlas of Seeds and Fruits of Central and East-European Flora: The Carpathian Mountains Region. Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.

Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI). 2022. Invasive species compendium, Festuca arundinacea (Tall Fescue). https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/23983  Accessed June 19, 2022.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). 2021. Canadian Methods and Procedures for Testing Seeds (M&P). Version 1.1, English. Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

eFloras. 2022. Flora of China. Festuca pratense. efloras.org  Accessed May 23, 2022.

International Seed Morphology Association (ISMA). 2020. Method for seed size measurement. Version 1.0. ISMA Publication Guide. https://www.idseed.org/authors/details/method_for_seed_size_measurement.html.

Terrell, E. E. 1971. Survey of occurrences of liquid or soft endosperm in grass genera. Bull. Torr. Botan. Club 98(5):264-268.

Tutin, T. G., Haywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Waters, S. M., Webb, D. A. (Eds.). 1980. Flora Europaea. Volume 5: Alismataceae to Orchidaceae (Monocotyledons). Cambridge University Press.

U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA-AMS). 2022. State Noxious-Weed Seed Requirements Recognized in the Administration of the Federal Seed Act. https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/StateNoxiousWeedsSeedList.pdf Accessed May 23, 2022.

U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Services (USDA-ARS). 2022. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=16709 Accessed May 22, 2022.

US Forest Service, 2016. Schedonorus pratensis. US Forest Service. http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/graminoid/schpra/all.html Accessed June 27, 2022.

Wiersema, J. H. and León, B. 1999. World Economic Plants: A Standard Reference. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.

Author(s)

AUTEUR(S)

Deborah J. Lionakis Meyer

California Department of Food and Agriculture (retired)