. California grasslands and range forage grasses. Grasses; Forage plants. Fig. 26. Western fescue (Festuca occidentalis). perennial bunchgrasses, forbs, and low shrubs. It does not endure deep shade. Forage value and reproduction: Idaho fescue has high rank as forage, the leafage being sought from early spring to autumn by cattle, horses, and sheep, as well as by deer. Like most bunch- grasses, the herbage grows fibrous and less palatable upon approach of maturity in the autumn. Even at that time horses feed extensively upon it, and other ani- mals consume the basal leafage about as well as th
. California grasslands and range forage grasses. Grasses; Forage plants. Fig. 26. Western fescue (Festuca occidentalis). perennial bunchgrasses, forbs, and low shrubs. It does not endure deep shade. Forage value and reproduction: Idaho fescue has high rank as forage, the leafage being sought from early spring to autumn by cattle, horses, and sheep, as well as by deer. Like most bunch- grasses, the herbage grows fibrous and less palatable upon approach of maturity in the autumn. Even at that time horses feed extensively upon it, and other ani- mals consume the basal leafage about as well as that of most bunchgrasses. The mature growth is taken well by all stock in autumn and winter after rains have stimulated production of new leafage, for then the old growth is grazed with the young. Stands are well maintained under good management, for seed pro- duction and seed viability are fair to good (48). 2. WESTERN FESCUE (Festuca occiden- talis) is densely tufted, the tall shining culms extending above an abundance of fine soft foliage; panicle 3-6 in (7-15 cm) long, the slender distant branches naked at base; spikelets 3-5 flowered, the awns about 5 mm long. (Fig. 26.) Distribution and habitat: Western fes- cue occurs from Monterey County (Big Sur) northward between elevations of about 500 to 8000 ft. Favorite habitats are oak woodland and the fertile red- woods, but it is also found on shaded rocky slopes and brushland of thin soils. Forage value and reproduction: The herbage is highly palatable to all kinds of livestock, partly because of the abundant, rather delicate basal leaves. Even the flower stalks are taken by cattle and horses up to seed maturity. The stands, however, are seldom dense, and conse- quently the grass does not contribute as much feed as Idaho fescue on ranges where the two are associated. The rela- tive sparseness of stands seems to be re- lated to the seed habits, which are not particularly strong, and to the fact that the herbage is sought through
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