Festuca brachyphylla subsp. breviculmis
Alpine fescue, Alpine Fescue
Family: Poaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Festuca brachyphylla subsp. breviculmis (Alpine fescue) is a native California perennial in the Poaceae family, recognized by . Distinguished by alpine habitat and tiny size.
Alpine fescue is a California native perennial found in the central Sierra Nevada Mountains, northern Sierra Nevada Eastern slopes, and White and Inyo Mountains in rocky subalpine and alpine habitats at elevations of 2,800 to 4,300 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces pale green to whitish flowers in small, narrow clusters about 1 to 2.5 centimeters long. Growing in dense clumps with stems 4 to 20 centimeters tall, it forms compact tufted clusters close to the ground. Its narrow leaves are tightly folded, measuring 1 to 6 centimeters long and less than half a millimeter wide, characteristic of high-altitude grass species. The plant produces delicate spikelets 3.5 to 5.5 millimeters long with 2 to 4 small florets, each with a minute awn about 1 to 1.5 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species. Distinguished by alpine habitat and tiny size
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky places, subalpine or alpine
Elevation: 2800-4300 m
Bloom period
Festuca brachyphylla subsp. breviculmis blooms Jul-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Bromus: Festuca sheaths split open; Bromus sheaths stay closed around the stem.; vs Lolium: Festuca spikelets branch from multiple points; Lolium spikelets sit flat against one side of stem.; vs Aciphylla: Festuca is a grass with thin blade leaves; Aciphylla has rigid spine-tipped tufts.; vs Poa: Festuca lemmas have 5+ veins; Poa lemmas show only 3-5 veins with cobwebby hairs at base.; vs Muhlenbergia: Festuca has multi-flowered chunky spikelets; Muhlenbergia has delicate single-flowered tiny spikelets.
Frequently asked questions
Is Festuca brachyphylla subsp. breviculmis native to California?
Yes. Festuca brachyphylla subsp. breviculmis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Festuca brachyphylla subsp. breviculmis bloom?
Festuca brachyphylla subsp. breviculmis blooms Jul-Sep.
What plant family does Festuca brachyphylla subsp. breviculmis belong to?
Festuca brachyphylla subsp. breviculmis is in the Poaceae family, genus Festuca.
What habitat does Festuca brachyphylla subsp. breviculmis grow in?
Festuca brachyphylla subsp. breviculmis grows in Rocky places, subalpine or alpine.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-06
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.