BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Festuca subulata | Bearded Fescue 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Bearded fescue is a native, perennial bunchgrass [8,14,24].  Culms are
16 to 32 inches (40-80 cm) tall [14,24].  Leaf blades are drooping, flat
or loosely rolled, and 4 to 12 inches (10-30 cm) long [9].  The
inflorescence is an open, loose panicle 4 to 16 inches (10-40 cm) long
[9,24].  Bearded fescue is occasionally stoloniferous in Utah [9], and
California plants reportedly have short rhizomes [24].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Hemicryptophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Bearded fescue may sprout from rhizomes and perennating buds at the base
of the culms.  It also reproduces by seed [9,24].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Bearded fescue occurs on mesic to moist sites in meadows, thickets,
forests, shaded places, coastal mountain valleys, wet benches, terraces
and streambanks [6,8,9,14,24].  It is most commonly found in soils
derived from sandstone, shale, and conglomerates [4,15].

Elevations for bearded fescue in some western states are as follows:  

                            feet                meters

California                 <8,250               <2,500    [9]
Utah                  5,544-7,656          1,680-2,320    [24]
Washington            1,815-4,820            550-1,460    [6]



SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Facultative Seral Species

Bearded fescue grows in both open and shaded areas [8,9,17], but does
best in full or partial shade [9].  In British Columbia, bearded fescue
occurs as a pioneer species in communities disturbed by avalanches [1].


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Bearded fescue blooms from June to August in California [17].  

Related categories for Species: Festuca subulata | Bearded Fescue