Meadow fescue
Festuca pratensis
Leaf blade
Bright green, hairless, upper surface ribbed sometimes rough, up to 4 mm in width. Lower surface smooth and glossy. Leaf margins rough.
Meadow fescue auricles. © Blackthorn arable.
Meadow fescue ligule. © Blackthron arable.
Meadow fescue - seedling. © Blackthorn arable.
Importance
Highly valued in grazing and hay fields throughout the UK and Europe and thrives in loamy and heavy moist soils. Abundant in wet meadows and old pastures.
Auricles
Small, spreading and hairless.
Description
Tall loosely tufted, tussock forming perennial reaching a height of up to 120 cm. Distinguished from tall fescue by hairless auricles. No rhizomes or stolons.
Spikelets are awnless, 5–14 flowered.
Ligule
Very short, 1 mm, blunt.
Meadow fescue - mature. © Blackthorn arable.
Meadow fescue. © Blackthorn arable.
