Festuca drymeja

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Common names

Scientific name

Festuca drymeja Mert. & W. D. J. Koch. Synonyms: Festuca montana L., Festuca altissima All., Festuca silvatica.

Conservation status and threats

NOT protected species in Bulgaria.

Description and identification

Perennial loose tufted herbaceous plant with short rhizomes. Stem 70 to 150 cm high, straight. The leaf blades of the lower basal leaves are rudimentary, and the upper basal leaves are very long (up to 20-80 cm long, 6-15 mm wide), linearly lanceolate, flat, gradually pointed, light green on the underside, gray-green on the upper, on both sides rough, roughly bristly at the margins, with curved back bristles, with 2-9 veins, of which 4-6 are thicker. Ligule ciliated, in the lower leaves short, truncated, in the upper ones oblong. The panicle with many spikelets, 10-30 cm long, bent. The spikelets are elliptical-lanceolate, 7 mm long, with 4-6 flowers, yellowish-green. Glume slightly unequal, 3-4 mm long, lanceolate, sharp, the upper reaches 1/2 or 1/3 of the length of the lemma standing in front of it. The lemma has 5 veins, obtuse, with short hairs. Flowering June-July¹.

Habitat

Deciduous, mixed and coniferous forests. A typical forest shade-loving mesophyte².

Distribution in Bulgaria

It is located in the Balkan Mountains, Sredna Gora, Vitosha, Rila, Belasitsa, the Rhodopes and Strandzha, up to about 1400 meters altitude³.

General distribution

Central and Southern Europe, Mediterranean, Caucasus, Northern Iran⁴.

Importance

Festuca drymeja is readily eaten by all domestic herbivores, especially cattle. Very good pasture and hay grass with high nutritional value⁵.

References

1 Вълев, Ст. 1963. В: Флора на Народна Република България. том I, София.

2 Вълев, Ст. 1963.

3 Вълев, Ст. 1963.

4 Вълев, Ст. 1963.

5 Вълев, Ст. 1963.

Festuca drymeja на български

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