Common Name: meadow fescue Duration: Perennial Nativity: Non-Native Lifeform: Graminoid General: Introduced tufted perennial, erect or spreading, stems 30-120 cm high, with a compact panicle having spikelets with 5-14 flowers. Vegetative: Culms 30-130 cm, with 2-4 nodes; sheaths glabrous; blades 10-25 cm long, 2-7 mm wide, glabrous, flat or sometimes rolled along edges, leaf margin ciliate; ligules <1 mm. Inflorescence: Panicles 10-25 cm long, branches usually paired, unequal, shorter branch with 1-2 spikelets, longer branch with 2-6 spikelets; spikelets 12-14 mm long, 2-5 mm wide, with 4-10 florets; glumes 2-5 mm long; lemmas 5-8 mm long, usually smooth, unawned; paleas slightly shorter than lemmas; anthers 2-4 mm. Ecology: Found in many environments, in prairies, meadows, woodland borders, vacant lots, and along roadsides from 600-10,000 ft. (180-3000 m); flowers May-September. Distribution: Throughout the United States Notes: Was introduced from Europe and is now widely distributed throughout the United States. Is similar to Festuca arundinacea, and Schedonorus arundinaceus, both of which have ciliate auricles, while E. pratensis has glabrous auricles. Ethnobotany: Has been used for pasture and hay for livestock, but is now rarely planted for that purpose. Is planted along highways for grass cover and erosion control. Etymology: Pratensis refers to growing in meadows. Editor: LKearsley, 2012
From Flora of Indiana (1940) by Charles C. Deam
Indiana Coefficient of Conservatism: C =null, non-native
