FESTUCA OVINA
3. Festuca ovina L. SHEEP FESCUE, SHEEP'S FESCUE.
A fibrous-rooted, densely-tufted, narrow-leaved perennial growing on poor dry soils, on top of knolls and, in general, in exposed situations; sometimes occurring in pastures and lawns.
Leaves folded in the bud-shoot. Sheath not compressed, not keeled, finely and densely pubescent, bluish green (lower ones sometimes pinkish at base), glaucous, split with margins generally overlapping; dead sheaths pale brown. Auricles absent, or present as rounded cartilaginous thickenings of the margins of the collar. Collar indistinct, narrow, glabrous. Ligule membranous, very short (less than 0.5 mm. long) or obsolete, truncate, ciliate. Blade closely and permanently folded, bristle-like, about 1 mm. in diameter, 5 to 15 cm. long, pale, bluish green, glaucous, deeply ridged on upper (inner) surface, glabrous or finely pubescent at base, usually scabrous; margins smooth.
This species can be distinguished from F. rubra by being glaucous, densely tufted, and having blades folded, even under moist conditions.
