Mostly tufted perennial grasses, with flat or convolute leaf-blades and paniculate inflorescence. Spikelets 2-several-flowered. Two lower scales empty, more or less unequal, acute, keeled; flowering scales membranous, narrow, rounded on the back, 5-nerved, usually acute, and generally awned at the apex. Palet scarcely shorter than the scale. Stamens 1-3. Styles very short, distinct. Stigmas plumose. Grain glabrous, elongated, often adherent to the scale or palet. [Latin, stalk or straw.]

A genus of about 100 species, widely distributed, particularly numerous in temperate regions. Type species: Festuca ovina L.

Spikelets perfect; stigma-branches toothed, bilateral.

Empty scales membranous, green, narrow, the second one 3-5-nerved.

Leaf-blades involute or folded, 1" wide or less.

Annuals; stamens 1 or 2.

Awn not longer than flowering scale; spikelets 5-many-flowered.

1.

F. octoflora.

Awn more than twice as long as flowering scale; spikelets 2-5-flowered.

First empty scale half as long as the second or less.

2.

F. Myuros.

First empty scale more than half as long as the second.

3.

F. sciurca.

Perennials; stamens 3.

Innovations extravaginal; plants with rootstocks or stolons.

4.

F. rubra.

Innovations intravaginal; plants densely tufted, no rootstocks or stolons.

Awns more than half as long as membranous flowering scales.

5.

F. occidentalis.

Awns less than one-half as long as the coriaceous flowering scales.

Flowering scales short-awned; leaf-blades setaceous.

Culms 8' tall or more; culm blades long.

6.

F. ovina.

Culms 6' long or less; culm blades short.

7.

F. brachyphylla.

Flowering scales awnless; leaf-blades capillary.

8.

F. capillata.

Leaf-blades flat, 2" wide or more.

Flowering scales awnless or short-awned.

Flowering scales 2 1/2"-3 1/2" long, spikelets 5-10-flowered.

9.

F. elatior.

Flowering scales 2" long or less, spikelets 3-6-flowered.

Spikelets very broad; panicle branches spikelet-bearing from middle or below.

10.

F. Shortii.

Spikelets lanceolate; branches elongated, spikelets at the end.

11.

F. nutans.

Flowering scales with an awn twice their length or more.

12.

F. gigantea.

Empty scales broad, scarious, with broad hyaline margins, thin, 1-nerved; base of the culm

clothed with dry leafless sheaths.

13.

F. altaica.

Spikelets unisexual; stigma-branches arising from all sides; dioecious.

14.

F. con finis.