FESTUCA RUBRA
4. Festuca rubra. L. RED FESCUE.
A narrow-leaved perennial, with short running rootstocks (except in F. Rubra var. fallax. Chewing's Fescue) but frequently showing tufted growth; occurring throughout the greater part of southern Quebec in meadows and pastures on moister and better soils than F. ovina.
Leaves folded in the bud-shoot. Sheath not compressed, not keeled, finely pubescent, split part way only; dead basal sheaths reddish brown, becoming fibrillose. Auricles absent or present as rounded extensions of the margins of the collar. Collar indistinct, narrow, continuous, glabrous, pale green. Ligule membranous, about 0.5 mm. long, truncate, entire or ciliolate. Blade 1.5 to 3 mm. wide, 5 to 15 cm. long, thick, V-shaped to closely folded and bristle-like, dark green, deeply ridged on upper surface, smooth and slightly shiny on under surface; margins smooth.
Festuca rubra can be distinguished from F. ovina by its dark green colour, its habit of spreading, forming an even or somewhat tufted turf, and by its leaves, which are usually open but may close, depending on moisture conditions.
