Festuca thurberi is a species of grass known by the common name Thurber's fescue. It is native to a section of the western United States encompassing New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming. It probably also occurs in parts of Arizona.[1]
This perennial grass forms a large, dense tuft of stout stems which may just exceed one meter in maximum height. It has a fibrous root network and no rhizomes. The roots are generally colonized by various mycorrhizae. The leaves are mostly located at the base of the stems. They feature a ligule which may be nearly one centimeter in length. The inflorescence is a panicle up to 17 centimeters long with spikelets borne on spreading branches a few centimeters long.[1][2]
This grass often occurs at high elevations. It can be found in alpine climates. It grows in several habitat types, usually in cool, dry areas. It is a dominant species in a number of regions throughout its range, growing in forest and woodland understory; it is an indicator species for a number of forest understory types. It occurs at elevations above Arizona fescue but below sheep fescue, with some overlap. It is more often a dominant grass at high elevations than the latter. It is associated with forests of quaking aspen in much of its region. In this habitat it can form a dense, tall, productive understory. In the Rocky Mountains it often begins its growth under the snowpack, producing chlorotic leaves until it encounters sunlight. Some meadows and grasslands are dominated by this species.[1]
This grass provides an adequate forage for livestock, more so for cattle than for sheep. Sheep probably find the grass less palatable because of its rough leaves. Cattle grazing in quaking aspen communities consume this grass in large quantities. Many wild animals such as elk utilize the grass as well.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcdMeyer, Rachelle 2009. Festuca thurberi. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory.
^Festuca thurberi. 2012-06-13 at the Wayback Machine Grass Manual Treatment.
festuca, thurberi, species, grass, known, common, name, thurber, fescue, native, section, western, united, states, encompassing, mexico, utah, colorado, wyoming, probably, also, occurs, parts, arizona, conservation, status, apparently, secure, natureserve, sci. Festuca thurberi is a species of grass known by the common name Thurber s fescue It is native to a section of the western United States encompassing New Mexico Utah Colorado and Wyoming It probably also occurs in parts of Arizona 1 Festuca thurberi Conservation status Apparently Secure NatureServe Scientific classification Kingdom Plantae Clade Tracheophytes Clade Angiosperms Clade Monocots Clade Commelinids Order Poales Family Poaceae Subfamily Pooideae Genus Festuca Species F thurberi Binomial name Festuca thurberiVasey This perennial grass forms a large dense tuft of stout stems which may just exceed one meter in maximum height It has a fibrous root network and no rhizomes The roots are generally colonized by various mycorrhizae The leaves are mostly located at the base of the stems They feature a ligule which may be nearly one centimeter in length The inflorescence is a panicle up to 17 centimeters long with spikelets borne on spreading branches a few centimeters long 1 2 This grass often occurs at high elevations It can be found in alpine climates It grows in several habitat types usually in cool dry areas It is a dominant species in a number of regions throughout its range growing in forest and woodland understory it is an indicator species for a number of forest understory types It occurs at elevations above Arizona fescue but below sheep fescue with some overlap It is more often a dominant grass at high elevations than the latter It is associated with forests of quaking aspen in much of its region In this habitat it can form a dense tall productive understory In the Rocky Mountains it often begins its growth under the snowpack producing chlorotic leaves until it encounters sunlight Some meadows and grasslands are dominated by this species 1 This grass provides an adequate forage for livestock more so for cattle than for sheep Sheep probably find the grass less palatable because of its rough leaves Cattle grazing in quaking aspen communities consume this grass in large quantities Many wild animals such as elk utilize the grass as well 1 References edit a b c d Meyer Rachelle 2009 Festuca thurberi In Fire Effects Information System Online U S Department of Agriculture Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station Fire Sciences Laboratory Festuca thurberi Archived 2012 06 13 at the Wayback Machine Grass Manual Treatment External links editThe Nature Conservancy permanent dead link USDA Plants Profile Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Festuca thurberi amp oldid 1220755028, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
