Festuca minutiflora
Small-flowered fescue
(c) crothfels, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Festuca minutiflora (Small-flowered fescue) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by . Distinguished by high elevation, small size, 2-flowered spikelets.
Small-flowered fescue is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native perennial found in central Sierra Nevada and White Mountains in moist, shady banks at elevations of 2,850 to 4,050 meters. Flowering in July, this plant produces delicate, narrow grass-like flower clusters 1 to 4 centimeters long. Growing in loosely tufted clumps 4 to 30 centimeters tall with nodes mostly concealed, it forms compact grass clusters. Its leaves are extremely fine, less than 0.5 millimeters wide, folded and often V-shaped in cross-section, creating soft, narrow green blades 2 to 12 centimeters long. Its tiny spikelets measure 2.5 to 5 millimeters with short awns 0.5 to 1.5 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 13 sympatric species. Distinguished by high elevation, small size, 2-flowered spikelets
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist, shady banks
Elevation: 2850-4050 m
California counties: Inyo, Mono, Tuolumne, Alpine
Outside California: to Yukon Territory, western Canada, Wyoming, New Mexico
Bloom period
Festuca minutiflora blooms Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.3
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 minutiflora native to California?
Yes. Festuca minutiflora is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Festuca minutiflora bloom?
Festuca minutiflora blooms Jul.
Where in California does Festuca minutiflora grow?
Festuca minutiflora occurs in Inyo, Mono, Tuolumne, Alpine, at elevations of 2850-4050 m.
What plant family does Festuca minutiflora belong to?
Festuca minutiflora is in the Poaceae family, genus Festuca.
Is Festuca minutiflora rare or endangered?
Festuca minutiflora carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.