keys to the vascular plants of east texas - Botanical Research ...

952 POACEAE/FESTUCA
Interestingly, the relationship between fungus and plant appears to be the mutualistic—infected grass
plants show many benefits in comparison to uninfected individuals—enhanced growth, more rapid germination,
higher seed production, greater resistance to drought, and protection against herbivory. Infected
plants thus grow better and are preferred for such uses as lawns and turf (Clay 1988; Ball et al. 1993). The
fungus, on the other hand, grows within and receives nourishment from the plant and is even spread inside
the host plant’s seeds. However, ranchers and land managers should be aware of the dangers to their livestock
of a diet containing significant amounts of infected F. arundinacea. � I
Festuca paradoxa Desv., (strange, unexpected), CLUSTERED FEATHER GRASS. Perennial 50–110(–
120) cm tall, similar to F. subverticillata but distinguished by characters in the key; spikelets 4–
8 mm long. Open woods, forest margins; Bowie, Red River, Wood (BRIT), San Jacinto (SBSC), and
Upshur (Turner et al. 2003) cos. Aiken et al. (1997) mapped (without specific counties) its occurrence
in the ne part of the Pineywoods and in the Red River drainage; in TX limited to the ne
part of the state; throughout much of the e U.S. from PA s to GA w to MN and TX. Apr–Jun. [F.
nutans Biehler, F. shortii Kunth ex A.W. Wood] While it has been suggested that this species intergrades
with F. subverticillata and that the two may represent only a single taxon (Gould
1975b), studies by Aiken and Lefkovitch (1993) and Aiken et al. (1997) indicate that they are
morphologically distinguishable and remain distinct in areas of sympatry, and hence are separate
species. Darbyshire and Pavlick (ined.) note that, while similar to F. subverticillata, F.
paradoxa has the “spikelets more distal and crowded on the inflorescence.”
Festuca pratensis Huds., (of meadows). MEADOW FESCUE, ENGLISH BLUEGRASS. Perennial similar
to F. arundinacea but usually smaller and less robust, to ca. 100(–130) cm tall; ligule � 0.5 mm
long; leaf blades 2–7(–8) mm wide, the veins not prominent on adaxial (= upper) surface; spikelets
9–15.5 mm long; anthers 2–4.5 mm long. Disturbed grassy areas, roadsides, stream banks;
included based on citation for TX by Kartesz (1999), because Tucker (1988) indicated that it is
“probably present in all the Southeastern States,” and to encourage collectors to look for it in
East TX. The only definitive TX specimen we have seen is from Potter Co. (BRIT) in the Panhandle.
However, this species is naturalized nearly throughout the continental U.S. and s
Canada (Kartesz 1999) and is expected from East TX; no county distribution map is provided.
Mostly Apr–Jul. Native of Europe and sw Asia. [F. elatior L., in part, Lolium pratense (Huds.)
Darbysh., Schedonorus pratensis (Huds.) P. Beauv.] Darbyshire (ined.) separates this and two related
species into the segregate genus Schedonorus (see discussion in generic synopsis). This
species is related to F. arundinacea—the two overlap in most characters (Sutherland 1986), and
Terrell (1968b) indicated that “some specimens will be more or less intermediate” between
these two species. Yatskievych (1999) also noted the two overlap and that “misdeterminations
are commonly encountered in the herbarium.” Hatch (2002) synonymized F. pratensis with F.
arundinacea. However, data from enzyme electrophoresis support the recognition of F.
arundinacea and F. pratensis as distinct species (Bulinska-Radomska & Lester 1985b), and in
his recent treatment, Darbyshire (ined.) recognized them at the specific level. Darbyshire (ined.)
noted that while this species was in the past a popular forage grass in parts of North America, it
is now only rarely used. I
Festuca subverticillata (Pers.) E.B. Alexeev, (slightly whorled), NODDING FESCUE. Glabrous perennial
50–100(–150) tall, forming clumps, without rhizomes; panicle open; spikelets 2–5(–6)-flowered,
4–7 mm long; lemmas awnless, falling early; anthers 1–2.2 mm long. Low woods and
thickets; Cherokee, Dallas, Grayson, Red River (BRIT), San Jacinto (E. Keith 155, SBSC—annotated
L. Brown), Burleson, and Shelby (Turner et al. 2003) cos.; in TX limited primarily to the ne
part of the state; se Canada and e U.S. w to ND and TX. Apr–Jun. [F. obtusa Biehler]
Festuca versuta Beal, (reversible), TEXAS FESCUE. Glabrous perennial 50–100 cm tall, forming
clumps, without rhizomes; panicle open; spikelets 2–5-flowered, usually 6–9(–11) mm long;
lemmas awnless or with a minute awn; anthers 2–3 mm long. Moist partially shaded areas,