Calflora
Taxon  Report   11688    
Festuca microstachys  Nutt.
Small fescue
Festuca microstachys
© 2008 Keir Morse
Photos from
CalPhotos / Calflora
Festuca microstachys
© 2011 Steve Matson
Festuca microstachys
© 2002 Dean Wm. Taylor
Festuca microstachys, a monocot, is an annual grass that is native to California, is also found outside of California, but is confined to western North America.

Interactive Distribution Map


Observation Hotline
(observation details)



point, line, or polygon

Plant Characteristics
and Associations


Bloom Period
Festuca microstachys
© 2004 Robert E. Preston, Ph.D.
Family: POACEAE  
Genus: Festuca
Communities: Yellow Pine Forest, Foothill Woodland, Chaparral, Valley Grassland, (many plant communities)
Name Status:
Accepted by JEF

PLANTS accepted name:
Vulpia microstachys var. microstachys

 Alternate Names:
ICPN: Festuca arida
ICPN: Vulpia microstachys var. pauciflora
ICPN: Vulpia microstachys var. microstachys
. . .
More information about  Festuca microstachys
Nursery / seed vendor availability from CNPLX
This plant is available commercially.
Landscaping information from Calscape
Photos on PlantID.net   /   Google Images
Jepson eFlora

Records from the Consortium of California Herbaria

USDA PLANTS Profile (VUMIM)

Search efloras.org (Flora of North America)

website references from Google


Suggested Citation
Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals, including the Consortium of California Herbaria. [web application]. 2019. Berkeley, California: The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization]. Available: https://www.calflora.org/   (Accessed: Jan 21, 2019).