Tall  Fescue-Grass Family

Alatza fescue, reed fescue, coarse fescue

Fistula arundinaceous

Characteristics.  This European grass was originally introduced for forages and as a turf grass but has escaped and is now widely distributed throughout the US.  Tall fescue is a patch-forming, coarse textured grass that spreads by white, long-lived rhizomes.  As with other fescues tilling will typically spread an infestation. Leaves of tall fescue are broader and grow much more rapidly than most desirable turf it has invaded leaving a clumpy appearance. In addition some varieties may be toxic to livestock.

Identifying Characteristics. The dark green leaf blades grow from the base of the plant at a 45 degree angle and can attain up to 24 inches in length. The blades may be hairy on the upper surface near their base. The rooting system is fibrous and lack rhizomes. 

Above images courtesy of the Midwestern Turfgrass Identification and Control Website

The auricles are well developed and tend to wrap around the base of the stem. 

Image courtesy of the Midwestern Turfgrass Identification and Control Website.

The flower heads are a somewhat open arrangement of 3 to 5 long branches at the bottom and many short branches in the upper third. Individual spikelets contain from 3 to 8 seeds.

Characteristics Important in Control. Regular mowing may not remove all the seed heads, as they adapt to lay flat along the soil or turf surface. This is a perennial grass that reproduces only by seed.