This species is an extremely variable cool season grass. Historically, almost all fine leaved, non-rhizomatous fescues were identified as Festuca ovina. Many of these specimens have been re-identified as other species. In N. America the name is known to have been mis-applied to specimens of Festuca brachypyhlla Schult ex Schult. & Schult f. and Festuca brevipila Tracy[].

Common Name: Sheep's Fescue

General Information

Festuca ovina is a densely tufted perennial grass growing around 20 - 50cm tall with numerous fine, stiff to semi-erect stems[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food (probably only as a food in times of famine). It is used as a ground cover and soil stabilizer.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Almost throughout temperate Eurasia, but absent from much of central Asia; N. Africa - Morocco

Habitat

Poor, well-drained shallow soils from low to high elevations[]. Grasy places[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.25 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Festuca ovina is a very versatile species found from near sea level to high elevations in the mountains. It grows in a wide range of climates in the temperate zone and has a high resistance to cold[, ].
Prefers a light well-drained soil in full sun[]. The plant is restricted to very dry soils in the wild, only growing on soils very poor in nutrients that can be very acid or, at the opposite, basic. It can be found on sandy soils or on very shallow stony soils originating from very diverse parental rocks[]. .A drought resistant plant once established[], it succeeds on shallow chalky soils[]. Plants are intolerant of wet soils[].
Tolerant of constant cutting, this plant is often grown in lawns[].
This is an extremely polymorphic species with a natural distribution throughout temperate and cold parts of the N hemisphere. Numerous variants have been recognized at infraspecific rank, often from different habitats and based on small differences in pubescence, size, proportion of vegetative and floral parts, and other characters[].

Edible Uses

Seed[, ]. No further details are given but the seed is rather small and would be very fiddly to utilise[]. The weight of 1,000 seeds is 0.8 - 1.0 g[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

Sheep fescue is an excellent weed control species because it has an extensive and dense bunch type root system. Once a good stand is established, it excludes the invasion of most weeds.
The plant's dense root system makes it ideal for the stabilization of disturbed soils, whilst its low growth form and low maintenance requirements make it ideal for ground cover purposes. It can be used to protect roadsides, airport landing strips, industrial and residential areas, ditch and canal banks, skid trails, clear cuts, ski hills, camp sites and other recreation areas from erosion. It provides excellent cover and erosion control in areas between trees such as rows of shelterbelts, windbreaks and tree farms[]. The plant withstands moderate equipment traffic and requires minimal maintenance. This characteristic makes it useful in vineyards, orchards, and farm equipment yards[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ[]. The seed usually germinates within three weeks.
Division in spring[]. Very easy, the clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions.