Festuca microstachys
Small fescue
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Poaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Festuca microstachys (Small fescue) is a native California annual in the Poaceae family, recognized by . Distinguished by cleistogamous florets and spreading branches.
Small fescue is a California native annual grass found in disturbed, open areas with sandy soils at elevations generally below 1,500 meters. Flowering from April to June, this grass produces pale green to green flowers in open, spreading inflorescences up to 24 centimeters long. Growing with slender stems 15 to 75 centimeters tall and a glabrous (smooth) surface, it develops delicate, angular spikelets. Its leaves are thin and narrow, typical of fescue grasses, with a loose, open growth habit. The fruit is approximately 4 to 6 millimeters long, with individual florets bearing small awns 3.5 to 12 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 20 sympatric species. Distinguished by cleistogamous florets and spreading branches
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed, open, generally sandy soils
Elevation: generally < 1500 m
California counties: Mendocino, San Bernardino, Kern, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Tulare, San Luis Obispo, Riverside, Monterey, Glenn, Yolo, Napa, Inyo, San Diego, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Mariposa, San Benito, Ventura, Fresno, El Dorado, Lassen, Orange, Amador, Butte, Alameda, Contra Costa, Sonoma, Trinity, Shasta, Siskiyou, San Mateo, San Joaquin, Plumas, Tehama, Madera, Santa Clara, Merced, Lake, Santa Cruz, Mono, Kings
Outside California: to British Columbia, Idaho, New Mexico, Baja California
Bloom period
Festuca microstachys blooms Apr-Jun.
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 microstachys native to California?
Yes. Festuca microstachys is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Festuca microstachys bloom?
Festuca microstachys blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Festuca microstachys grow?
Festuca microstachys occurs in Mendocino, San Bernardino, Kern, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Tulare, San Luis Obispo, Riverside and other counties, at elevations of generally < 1500 m.
What plant family does Festuca microstachys belong to?
Festuca microstachys is in the Poaceae family, genus Festuca.
What habitat does Festuca microstachys grow in?
Festuca microstachys grows in Disturbed, open, generally sandy soils.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.