Fine-leaf sheep fescue

Festuca filiformis, the fine-leaf sheep’s fescue or hair fescue, is a densely tufted perennial bunchgrass in the family Poaceae closely allied to F. ovina. It forms compact tussocks of very fine, hair-like leaves only about 0.3–0.5 mm wide and 5–20 cm long, bright to greyish green and inrolled, arising from a short knotty rootstock. The slender, smooth culms reach roughly 20–45 cm and bear narrow, somewhat one-sided panicles of small, awnless or short-awned spikelets that ripen pale straw. It is native to acidic, infertile soils across much of Europe, growing on heaths, dry pastures, sandy banks and open woodland clearings, and is now widespread elsewhere as an introduced species, sometimes regarded as a weed. The fine, drought-tolerant foliage gives the plant value in low-input lawns and as a component of meadow seed mixes, but no significant medicinal, culinary or fibre tradition is recorded.