FESTUCAL. - FESCUE
Scientific Description:
Caespitose or rhizomatous perennials. Leaf sheaths open or closed; ligule hyaline, often very short; blades plicate, involute or flat. Inflorescence a lax or contracted panicle. Spikelets pedicellate, laterally ± compressed, with (2−)4 to several florets. Rachilla disarticulating between all florets. Glumes 2, lower usually 1-veined, upper broader, usually 3-veined. Lemma usually dorsally rounded and not keeled, rarely with a keel, always 5-veined, with or without a terminal or subterminal awn. Palea hyaline, with 2 ciliate keels. Lodicules 2. Stamens 3. Ovary oblong or obovoid. Caryopsis oblong-obovoid, free or adnate to lemma, ventrally sulcate; hilum linear, c. as long as caryopsis, rarely elliptic and half as long.
Reference:
Markgraf−Dannenberg I (1985). Festuca L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 9: 400.
Public Description:
Festuca is a genus of perennial plants, commonly known as “fescue”, and is widespread in the world except of Antarctica. There are approximately 664 species in the world and 22 species (43 taxa) in Türkiye. They are easily grow and so are often used in soil erosion control programs. Some species are used as ornamental plants and are used as turf grass especially on golf courses. They are used in animal husbandry as feed plants because they are highly nutritious. They are also sometimes used as forage plants for horses, but the "fescue poisoning" caused by alkaloids produced by some kind of fungus is a risk, especially for pregnant mares.
References:
Anonymous 1 (2016). http://www.finegardening.com/fescue-festuca /,Accessed date: 17.03.2016.
Anonymous 2 (2016). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festuca / ,Accessed date: 17.03.2016.
Anonymous 3 (2016). http://www.theplantlist.org/1.1/browse/A/Poaceae/Festuca/ Accessed date: 17.03.2016.
Cabi E, Doğan M (2012). Festuca L., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 719–723.
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