Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) S.J. Darbyshire
Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) S.J. DarbyshireTall Fescue
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Grass |
Description
Height
Tall fescue is an erect, tufted cool-season perennial grass 2 to 4 feet (60 to 120 cm) in height, green in winter and spring, during which it is the most common green bunchgrass. Dark-green leaves appearing in late winter, usually flowering in spring (infrequently in late summer). Semi-dormant during heat of summer, with whitish seedstalks persisting. Growth resuming in fall and continuing into early winter.Stem
The stem is moderately stout, unbranched, and hairless with a round cross section and one to three swollen light-green nodes widely spaced near the base.Leaves
Leaves are mostly basal with a few alternate on the stem, flat and long-lanceolate, 4 to 18 inches (10 to 45 cm) long and 0.1 to 0.3 inch (3 to 8 mm) wide. Dark green leaves have whitish to yellow-green flared collars, with collar backs often at an angle to the stem. Blades are smooth to rough, with one to two leaves along the stem becoming smaller upward. Midvein is not apparent. Ligule is a tiny white membrane.Flowers
Spring blooming, March to June (to October), tall fescue has loosely branched terminal panicles, 4 to 12 inches (10 to 30 cm) long, that are erect or nodding at tips, narrow then spreading in spring, and then narrow again in summer. Panicle branches are shorter at the top, with four to seven flowers in spindle-shaped clusters along each branch. Flowers are greenish white and shiny becoming purplish. Spikelets are hairless and ellipsoid with a pointed tip.Seeds
May (to November). Husked grain is spindle-shaped, 0.1 to 0.2 inch (3 to 5 mm) long with whitish straw-colored husks, usually tipped with a short hair.Images
Photo: Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society, Bugwood.orgMore images of Lolium arundinaceum or Schedonorus phoenix
Life History
Tall fescue, or meadow fescue, is an erect, tufted cool-season perennial grass 2 to 4 feet (60 to 120 cm) in height, green in winter and spring, during which it is the most common green bunchgrass. Dark-green leaves appear in late winter, with flowering usually in spring (infrequently in late summer). It is semi-dormant during heat of summer, with whitish seed stalks persisting. Growth resuming in fall and continuing into early winter. It is a member of the Poaceae or Grass family.Certain varieties are poisonous to livestock and wildlife by infecting them with an endophytic fungus. Most tall fescue is infected with a fungus that can reduce weight gains and lower reproductive rates in livestock, while adversely affecting the nutrition of songbirds and Canada geese. Tall fescue monocultures are generally poor habitat for wildlife.
Ecology and Habitat
Tall fescue is the predominant cool-season bunchgrass. It occurs as tufted clumps or small to extensive colonies along forest margins and right-of-ways, and is widely escaped to invade new forest plantations, roads, and openings. It grows on wet to dry sites and spreads more by expanding rootcrowns and less by seeds.Origin and Distribution
Tall fescue was introduced from Europe in the early to mid-1800s. It was recognized as a valuable forage grass in 1930s when the ecotype Kentucky 31 was discovered and is now widely distributed most everywhere in the world where is has been established widely for turf forage, soil stabilization, and wildlife food plots.Other states where invasive: WA, OR, ID, WI, MO, OK, AR, GA, NJ.
Source: Information on this plant page is derived primarily from James H. Miller's Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests, USDA Forest Service.
Management Recommendations
Mechanical Controls
Early spring burning, if repeated, inhibits fescue and encourages native warm-season grasses.Herbicidal Controls
Folir Spray Methods
On forest lands, apply a glyphosate herbicide as a 0.5-percent solution in water (2 quarts per 10 gallons mix per acre), or Arsenal AC as a 1-percent solution (25 ounces per 20 gallons mix per acre) in spring.On non-croplands, apply 10 to 12 dry ounces of Plateau per 20 gallons mix per acre (consult the label for additives) in spring. Mixing Plateau with a glyphosate herbicide or Arsenal AC will improve control but may damage associated native plants. Vantage (sethoxydim), Poast (sethoxydim), Assure (quizalofop), and Select (clethodim) may be useful on pastures, but they are usually more costly than a glyphosate mix with Plateau or Arsenal AC.
Nontarget plants may be killed or injured by root uptake.