Lesson 21: Exploring the Fescues

Situation

The fescue species represent the textural extremes of the festucoid turfgrasses. The leaf blades of the fine fescues, including the red and hard fescues, are very fine - almost needlelike - in texture while tall fescue is quite coarse. On trips you have taken around the country, you've noticed large expanses of tall fescue in the Carolinas and other locations with cool subtropical-humid climates, and you've seen the fine fescues used extensively, but especially on shaded sites in temperate and subarctic climates. You wonder: How could a single genus - the festuca - vary so much in physical appearance and climatic adaptation?

As you reflect on these observations, consider the following questions:

• What are the important morphological features for identifying these turfgrasses?
• What are the conditions to which these turfgrasses are well adapted?
• What are their cultural requirements?
• What are their principal uses as turfgrasses?

What to do...

The purpose of this lesson to to review the following turfgrasses:

• Creeping red fescue
• Hard fescue
• Tall fescue

As you review the turfgrasses above, be aware that the information will appear in a second window (as you have seen with some material in earlier lessons). Use the links to review the characteristics of each grass. Close the window to return to this page....

In this lesson you will review information on Fungal Endophytes.When you are finished going through the lesson, access the Lesson 21 Quiz. You can take the quiz up to 5 times. Practice! The questions are just like those you will find on the exams.