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Sheep's Fescue
 
 
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Sheep's Fescue or Sheep Fescue (Festuca ovina) is a species
Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring....
 of grass
Poaceae

Poaceae or Gramineae is a family in the Class Liliopsida of the Magnoliophyta. Plants of this family are usually called grasses; the shrub- or tree-like plants in this family are called bamboo ....
. It is a perennial plant
Perennial plant

A perennial plant or perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. When used by gardeners or horticulturalists, this term applies specifically to perennial herbaceous plants....
 sometimes found in acidic bogs, for example in the Portlethen Moss
Portlethen Moss

The Portlethen Moss is an acidic bog nature reserve in the coastal Grampian region in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Like other Bog, this wetland area supports a variety of plant and animal species, even though it has been subject to certain development and agricultural degradation pressures....
, Scotland
Scotland

conventional_long_name = ScotlandAlba|common_name= Scotland|image_flag = Flag of Scotland.svg|flag_width = 130px...
 and mountain pasture, throughout Europe
Europe

Europe is, conventionally, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural , the Caspian Sea, and by the Caucasus Mountains to the southeast....
 (with the exception of some Mediterranean areas
Mediterranean Basin

The Mediterranean Basin refers to the lands around and surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea. In biogeography, the Mediterranean Basin refers to the lands around the Mediterranean Sea that have a Mediterranean climate, with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers, which supports characteristic Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub...
) and eastwards across much of Asia; it has also been introduced to eastern North America
North America

North America is the northern continent of the Americas, situated in the Earth's northern hemisphere and almost totally in the western hemisphere....
 .

It is sometimes used as a drought-tolerant
Xeriscaping

Xeriscaping and xerogardening refers to Landscape architecture and gardening in ways that reduce or eliminate the need for supplemental irrigation....
 lawn
Lawn

A lawn is an area of recreational or amenity land planted with Poaceae, and sometimes clover and other plants, which are maintained at a low, even height....
 grass.

Sheep's fescue is a densely tufted perennial grass.






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Encyclopedia


Sheep's Fescue or Sheep Fescue (Festuca ovina) is a species
Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring....
 of grass
Poaceae

Poaceae or Gramineae is a family in the Class Liliopsida of the Magnoliophyta. Plants of this family are usually called grasses; the shrub- or tree-like plants in this family are called bamboo ....
. It is a perennial plant
Perennial plant

A perennial plant or perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. When used by gardeners or horticulturalists, this term applies specifically to perennial herbaceous plants....
 sometimes found in acidic bogs, for example in the Portlethen Moss
Portlethen Moss

The Portlethen Moss is an acidic bog nature reserve in the coastal Grampian region in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Like other Bog, this wetland area supports a variety of plant and animal species, even though it has been subject to certain development and agricultural degradation pressures....
, Scotland
Scotland

conventional_long_name = ScotlandAlba|common_name= Scotland|image_flag = Flag of Scotland.svg|flag_width = 130px...
 and mountain pasture, throughout Europe
Europe

Europe is, conventionally, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural , the Caspian Sea, and by the Caucasus Mountains to the southeast....
 (with the exception of some Mediterranean areas
Mediterranean Basin

The Mediterranean Basin refers to the lands around and surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea. In biogeography, the Mediterranean Basin refers to the lands around the Mediterranean Sea that have a Mediterranean climate, with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers, which supports characteristic Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub...
) and eastwards across much of Asia; it has also been introduced to eastern North America
North America

North America is the northern continent of the Americas, situated in the Earth's northern hemisphere and almost totally in the western hemisphere....
 .

It is sometimes used as a drought-tolerant
Xeriscaping

Xeriscaping and xerogardening refers to Landscape architecture and gardening in ways that reduce or eliminate the need for supplemental irrigation....
 lawn
Lawn

A lawn is an area of recreational or amenity land planted with Poaceae, and sometimes clover and other plants, which are maintained at a low, even height....
 grass.

Sheep's fescue is a densely tufted perennial grass. Its greyish green leaves are short and bristle-like. The panicles are both slightly feathery and a bit one-sided.

Sheep's fescue is a drought-resistant grass, commonly found on poor, well-drained mineral soil. More colourful garden varieties with blue-grey foliage are available. This is one of the food plants for the caterpillars of several butterflies, including the Gatekeeper and the Meadow Brown
Meadow Brown

The Meadow Brown is a butterfly found in European meadows, where its larvae feed on grasses, such as Sheep's Fescue.Similar species are Gatekeeper Butterfly and Small Heath ....
, and the Small Heath
Small Heath (butterfly)

The Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus is a butterfly species belonging to the Family_ Nymphalidae, . It is widespread in Eurasia and northwestern Africa, preferring drier habitats than other Coenonymphae....
.

It flowers from May until June, and is wind pollinated.

Photos


Illustrations


See also

  • Festuca duriuscula
    Festuca duriuscula

    Festuca duriuscula is a species of Poaceae, which is an ornamental plant.References...
     (syn. Festuca ovina L. var. duriuscula Macloskie)