Species: Vulpia octoflora var. octoflora (Walt.) Rydb.

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Vulpia octoflora var. octoflora (Walt.) Rydb.

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Poaceae

Genus:

Vulpia

Species Synonyms:

Festuca octoflora Walt
Festuca octoflora var. aristulata Torr. ex L.H. Dewey

Common Names:

six-weeks fescue

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

British Columbia, south eastern Alberta – southwestern Saskatchewan – southern Ontario – southwestern Quebec

Saskatchewan:

southwestern Saskatchewan; The Great Sand Hills

Ecoregion:

Mixed Grassland

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

dry, exposed, sandy sites, especially in stabilized dune grasslands

Associated species:

Bouteloua gracilis, Calamagrostis montanensis, Cryptantha fendleri, Elaeagnus commutata, Hedeoma hispida, Koeleria gracilis, Lepidium densiflorum, Oenothera caespitosa, Plantago patagonica, Polygonum douglasii, Selaginella densa

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Threatened

Nature Conservancy Status:

G5 S2

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

Threatened

COSEWIC Status:

None

Vulpia octoflora var. octoflora is threatened because of rarity in Saskatchewan. Some local populations are small and some are larger. Possible threats have been identified for this species.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Height:

5 – 50 cm

Roots:

fibrous

Stems:

solitary or loosely caespitose, erect, glabrous or pubescent

Leaves:

blades to 10 cm long, 0.5 – 1 mm wide, filiform, flat or rolled, strongly veined, dark green, glabrous or pubescent; sheaths flattened, keeled, glabrous or pubescent; ligules less than 1 mm long; auricles absent

Inflorescence:

panicles 4 – 7 cm long, 0.5 – 1.5 cm wide, 1 – 2 branches per node; branches erect to ascending

Spikelets:

5.5 – 10 mm long, only slightly overlapping if at all, 5 – 11-flowered

Florets:

lower glumes 1.5 – 4.5 mm long, upper glumes 2.5 – 7 mm long; callus glabrous; lemmas 2.5 – 6.5 mm long, 5-veined, apex entire, lowermost lemma awned; awn 3 – 9 mm long; palea slightly shorter than the lemma, apex entire or minutely toothed

Fruits:

caryopsis

POACEAE KEY FOR GENERA FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN

1 Spikelets with one fertile floret, may have one sterile or staminate floret below the fertile floret; spikelets dorsally compressed; articulation below the glumes	2
1 Spikelets with one or more fertile florets; sterile florets if present above the fertile florets; spikelets laterally compressed; articulation usually above the glumes (except Beckmannia, Leersia, Spartina, and Sphenopholis) OR with two sterile or staminate florets below the single perfect floret	10

2 Spikelets in pairs; glumes coriaceous; palea membranous	3
2 Spikelets not in pairs; glumes membranous; palea indurate	5

3 Each stem terminating in a single raceme	Schizachyrium
3 Each stem terminating in panicles with 2 to many racemose branches	4

4 Tufted perennials; inflorescences terminal and axillary, composed of digitate clusters; peduncles subtended by a modified leaf; rachis and pedicels white or yellow hairy	Andropogon
4 Rhizomatous perennials; inflorescences terminal, composed of elongate rachises and branched branches; rachis and pedicels yellow-brown hairy	Sorghastrum

5 Spikelets subtended by an involucre of 1 to many scabrous bristles (inserted below the ovary)	Setaria
5 Spikelets without an involucre of scabrous bristles	6

6 Glumes or lower (sterile) lemmas awned	Echinochloa
6 Glumes and lemmas without awns	7

7 Inflorescence a slender, spicate raceme; upper lemmas and paleas cartilaginous; ligule membranous	Digitaria
7 Inflorescence an open panicle; upper lemmas and paleas chartaceous to indurate; ligule, when present, a ring of hairs	8

8 At least some leaves without ligules	Echinochloa
8 All leaves with ligules	9

9 Basal leaves (winter rosette) different from stem leaves; spikelets obtuse to acute; second glume and sterile lemma pilose	Dichanthelium
9 Basal and stem leaves similar; spikelets acute to acuminate; second glume and sterile lemma slightly scabrous	Panicum

10 Spikelets with one floret; lemmas terminating in a 3-branched awn	Aristida
10 Spikelets with one or more florets; lemmas not terminating in a 3-branched awn	11

11 Spikelets with 2 staminate or sterile florets below the single perfect floret	12
11 Spikelets not as above	13

12 Spikelets with 2 staminate florets below the single perfect floret; florets brown; plant sweet smelling	Hierochloë
12 Spikelets with 2 sterile florets below the single perfect floret; florets pale or green; plants not sweet smelling	Phalaris

13 Spikelets unisexual, inflorescence with highly dimorphic spikelets borne in distinct regions; large aquatic annuals	Zizania
13 Spikelets unisexual or bisexual, inflorescence not highly dimorphic; annual or perennial, mostly terrestrial	14

14 Spikelets sessile or nearly so in a spike, usually 2-ranked (spikes may be arranged in panicles)	15
14 Spikelets distinctly pedicelled, in panicles or racemes	36

15 Spikelets on one side of the rachis; spikes solitary or in heads, racemes, or panicles	16
15 Spikelets in rows on opposite sides of the rachis; spikes solitary and elongate	21

16 Spikelets unisexual (monoecious or dioecious); pistillate spikelets in bur-like clusters	Buchloë
16 Spikelets bisexual; spikes not in bur-like clusters	17

17 Plants stoloniferous with pubescent stems; leaves in fascicles; inflorescence head-like and hidden among the leaves	Munroa
17 Plants not both stoloniferous and with pubescent stems, but may be one or the other; leaves not in fascicles; inflorescence not head-like and hidden among the leaves	18

18 Spikes comb-like, solitary or in racemes; spikelets more than 4 mm long	19
18 Spikes not comb-like, in a simple panicle or spike; spikelets less than 4 mm long	20

19 Stems 20 – 40 cm tall; leaves 1 – 7 mm wide; spikes 1 – 2; fertile lemma 3-cleft at apex, teeth short awned or at least sharp-pointed; plants of dry ground	Bouteloua
19 Stems 30 – 150 cm tall; leaves 2 – 15 mm wide; spikes more than 3; fertile lemma entire or with two rounded teeth; plants of moist or saline soil	Spartina

20 Leaves flat, 5 – 10 mm wide; inflorescence narrow; spikelets suborbicular, about 3 mm long; glumes unequal, narrow; plants of wet ground	Beckmannia
20 Leaves twisted, 1 – 2 mm wide; inflorescence open; spikelets lanceolate, about 4 mm long; glumes equal, broad; plants of dry ground	Schedonnardus

21 Spikelets solitary at each rachis node	22
21 Spikelets 2 or more at each rachis node	29

22 Spikelets oriented with the edge towards the rachis; usually with only one glume	Lolium
22 Spikelets oriented with the broad side towards the rachis; 2 glumes usually present	23

23 Plants annual, cultivated (usually found near the cultivated fields); lemmas eccentrically keeled, nerves converging to form an awn, or not converging at apex	24
23 Plants perennial or weedy annuals; lemmas rounded or obscurely keeled, nerves converging toward apex	25

24 Glumes broad, 3-nerved; lemma nerves not converging at apex	Triticum
24 Glumes linear-subulate, 1-nerved; lemma nerves converging to form an awn	Secale

25 Spikes distinctly pectinate, strongly flattened and comb-like; spikelets divergent; leaves relatively short and rigid; tufted annuals	Agropyron
25 Spikes not pectinate, terete or nearly so; spikelets ascending; leaves longer, not rigid; perennials	26

26 Glumes and lemmas blunt at apex, occasionally mucronate; stems solid	Thinopyrum
26 Glumes and lemmas acute to awned at apex; stems hollow	27

27 Rhizome short or absent; spike open; spikelets distant, generally shorter than internodes; glumes 4 – 6-nerved; lemma awns 1 – 2 cm long, divergent	Pseudoroegneria
27 Plants not as above	28

28 Glumes rigid; auricles often purplish; plants glaucous	Pascopyrum
28 Glumes not rigid; auricles yellowish-green; plants green or gray-green	Elymus

29 Spikelets in threes at each rachis node, 1-flowered, the lateral pair of spikelets usually reduced to awns	Hordeum
29 Spikelets in pairs at least at some rachis nodes, 2 – 6-flowered, spikelets all similar	30

30 Spikelets paired at lower nodes, solitary at middle and upper nodes	X Elyhordeum
30 Spikelets paired at all nodes	31

31 Rhizomes long, creeping and stout; spikelets mostly hairy	32
31 Rhizomes short or absent; spikelets hairy or glabrous	35

32 Glumes lanceolate	Leymus
32 Glumes subulate	33

33 Glumes purplish; lemmas densely pubescent with long, silky hairs	Leymus
33 Glumes greenish; lemmas glabrous or otherwise pubescent	34

34 Lemmas awnless	Leymus
34 Lemmas awned	Elyleymus

35 Glumes subulate, not broadened above the base or awned; lemmas awnless or with a short awn	Psathrostachys
35 Glumes narrowly lanceolate, somewhat broadened above the base, commonly awned; lemmas frequently long-awned (0.5 – 4 cm)	Elymus

36 Spikelets very flat and 1-flowered; glumes absent or small; stamens 6	Leersia
36 Spikelets more or less compressed but not flattened, one or more flowered; one or two glumes present; stamens 3	37

37 Spikelets with one perfect floret	38
37 Spikelets with two or more perfect florets	55

38 Lemma indurate, enclosing palea and caryopsis	39
38 Lemma thin, commonly membranous, not enclosing palea and caryopsis	45

39 Lemma awnless	Milium
39 Lemma awned	40

40 Florets plump; lemma awn weak and deciduous	41
40 Florets slender; lemma awn firm and persistent	43

41 Panicle diffuse; glumes sharp-pointed; lemma long, silky pubescent	Achnatherum
41 Panicle not diffuse; glumes blunt to soft-pointed; lemma glabrous to short pubescent	42

42 Leaves flat, to over 1 cm broad; spikelets 6 – 8 mm long, not including the awn; glumes distinctly 7-nerved	Oryzopsis
42 Leaves involute, to 2 mm broad; spikelets 3 - 5 mm long, not including awn; glumes obscurely 5-nerved	Piptatherum

43 Glumes at least 1.5 cm long; lemma 8 – 20 mm long, awn 10 – 20 cm long	Hesperostipa
43 Glumes 1.5 cm long or less; lemma 4 – 6 mm long, lemma awn less than 6 cm long	44

44 Panicle open, branches spreading or drooping (if narrow and ascending, then lower nodes of panicle glabrous and callus sharp-pointed)	Achnatherum
44 Panicle narrow, branches ascending to erect, lower nodes of panicle always villous and callus short and broad	Nasella

45 Florets stipitate; stamens 1	Cinna
45 Florets not stipitate; stamens usually 3	46

46 Lemmas awned	47
46 Lemmas awnless	51

47 Disarticulation below the glumes; panicle dense and spike-like	48
47 Disarticulation above the glumes, glumes persisting on mature inflorescence; panicles various	49

48 Glumes long-awned	Polypogon
48 Glumes awnless	Alopecurus

49 Callus bearing a tuft of long, straight hairs; lemma awned from the back below the middle	Calamagrostis
49 Callus glabrous; lemma awned from tip or near tip	50

50 Delicate annuals; lemma awned on back, but above the middle	Agrostis
50 Perennials; lemma awned from tip	Muhlenbergia

51 Panicles cylindrical, dense, spike-like; glumes prominently keeled or folded	Phleum
51 Panicles condensed to open but not cylindrical; glumes not conspicuously keeled or folded	52

52 Callus with a prominent tuft of hairs; lemma 1-nerved	Calamovilfa
52 Callus without a prominent tuft of hairs; lemma 3 – 5-nerved	53

53 Ligule a fringe of hairs; grain plump, globose	Sporobolus
53 Ligule membranous; grain not plump and globose	54

54 Panicles open; glumes surpassing the lemmas	Agrostis
54 Panicles narrow and/or glumes shorter than lemmas	Muhlenbergia

55 Glume shorter than first floret; spikelets with 2 – many perfect florets; lemmas, if awned, awned from the tip or bifid apex	56
55 Glume as long as first floret or longer; spikelets generally with 3 or fewer perfect florets; lemmas if awned, awned from the back	71

56 Panicle plumose, rachilla with long silky hairs; tall reeds	Phragmites
56 Panicle not plumose, rachilla glabrous or otherwise pubescent; not tall reeds	57

57 Spikelets subsessile in one-sided clusters, strongly compressed	Dactylis
57 Spikelets pedicellate or sessile but not in one sided clusters or strongly compressed	58

58 Lemmas 3-nerved, awnless; ligule of hairs or fringed	59
58 Lemmas 5 – 11-nerved, may be awned; ligules membranous	61

59 Glumes and lemmas rounded on back; spikelets with 2 fertile florets	Catabrosa
59 Glumes and lemmas keeled; spikelets with more than 2 fertile florets	60

60 Spikelets with 3 to many florets; glumes and lemmas thin and scarious	Eragrostis
60 Spikelets with up to 5 florets; glumes and lemmas herbaceous	Poa

61 Panicle with a few solitary branches; glumes papery; lemmas dissimilar, spikelet terminating in a club-shaped rudiment	Melica
61 Panicle usually compound; glumes not papery; lemmas similar, spikelet reduced at top but not modified into club-shaped rudiment	62

62 Lemmas keeled, awnless	63
62 Lemmas rounded (if keeled, only near tip), may be awned	34

63 Plants dioecious; lemmas 9 – 11-nerved, rigid, and coriaceous; leaves involute to flat, stiff; usually in saline habitats	Distichlis
63 Plants with bisexual florets; lemmas 5-nerved, herbaceous or membranous; leaves softer, commonly keeled at tip; habitats various	Poa

64 Lemmas distinctly 2-lobed at apex, often awned from apical notch	65
64 Lemmas entire or toothed, awn terminal	66

65 Callus of florets bearded; ligule sheathing the stem and continuous with front sheath	Schizachne
65 Callus of florets not bearded; ligule not sheathing the stem	Bromus

66 Callus of florets bearded; lemmas toothed at apex	Scolochloa
66 Callus of florets not bearded; lemmas entire	67

67 Lemma nerves arcuate, converging to midrib; lemmas awned	68
67 Lemma nerves parallel, not converging; lemmas not awned	69

68 Anthers 1; stems < 50 cm tall, annual	Vulpia
68 Anthers 3; stems frequently taller than 50 cm, perennial	Festuca

69 Lemma nerves 5, faint; plants of saline habitats	Puccinellia
69 Lemma nerves 7, conspicuous; plants of moist habitats	70

70 Leaf sheaths open; second glumes 3-nerved	Torreyochloa
70 Leaf sheaths at least partially united; glumes 1-nerved	Glyceria

71 Lemma awnless or with a very short awn	72
71 Lemma distinctly awned	74

72 Panicle spike-like; glumes unequal in length but similar in shape; articulation above the glumes	Koeleria
72 Panicle dense to open but not spike-like; glumes similar or dissimilar; articulation below the glumes	73

73 Glumes dissimilar, the first linear, the second wider; leaves to 5 mm broad	Sphenopholis
73 Glumes similar in shape but unequal in length; leaves to 1 cm broad	Trisetum

74 Awn flattened, twisted, inserted in the notch between apical teeth; ligule a tuft of hairs	Danthonia
74 Awn not flattened, awn inserted dorsally; ligule membranous	75

75 Lemmas 4-nerved, apex subtruncate, 2 – 4-toothed; spikelets less than 1 cm long	Deschampsia
75 Lemmas 5 – 9-nerved, apex tapering, 2-toothed; spikelets greater than 1 cm long	76

76 Glumes 2 – 3.5 cm long, usually 7-nerved	Avena
76 Glumes less than 1.5 cm long, usually 5-nerved	Avenula