Gravel fescue
Festuca lachenalii
Synonyms: Triticum lolioides, Brachypodium tenellum, Triticum halleri, Triticum tenuiculum, Triticum nardus var. molle, Festuca poa var. triticiformis, Festuca maritima var. nardus, Micropyrum tenellum f. muticum, Micropyrum tenellum, Nardurus lachenalii var. tenuiculum, Festuca tenella var. tenuicula, Festuca lachenalii subsp. tenuicula, Nardurus lachenalii, Catapodium halleri, Triticum nardus var. pubescens, Catapodium tenellum var. tenuiculum, Brachypodium poa, Nardurus tenuiculmis, Agropyron tenuiculum, Triticum nardus, Nardurus halleri, Catapodium halleri var. tenuiculum, Micropyrum tenellum var. barbatum, Festuca poa, Catapodium halleri var. ramosum, Brachypodium nardus, Vulpia lachenalii, Festuca poa var. elatior, Triticum lolioides var. elongatum, Triticum tenellum var. barbatum, Nardurus lachenalii var. longipes, Prosphysis tenella, Triticum festuca, Festuca lachenalii var. pauciflora, Festuca nardus, Nardurus lachenalii subsp. halleri, Triticum lachenalii, Triticum tenellum, Catapodium tenellum var. barbatum, Triticum lolioides var. muticum, Agropyron poa, Festuca racemifera, Catapodium tenellum, Triticum tenellum var. muticum, Agropyron halleri, Brachypodium halleri, Festuca lachenalii var. mutica, Nardurus lachenalii var. maximus, Catapodium tenellum var. muticum, Nardurus tenellus, Festucaria tenuicula, Catapodium halleri var. elongatum, Festuca poa var. tenuicula, Festuca festucoides, Nardurus morisonii, Brachypodium tenuiculum, Nardurus poa, Catapodium halleri var. pauciflorum, Triticum festucoides, Festuca poa var. mutica, Festuca lachenalii var. ramosa, Triticum poa, Festuca poa var. ramosa
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Botanical Description
Festuca lachenalii is a small, slender annual grass of the Poaceae family, typically only 5 to 30 centimetres tall, with thin, erect or geniculate culms arising from a sparse, fibrous root system and forming small loose tufts. The narrow, involute, almost filiform leaf blades are 1 to 6 centimetres long and less than 1 millimetre wide, with a very short truncate ligule and smooth or sparsely scabrid sheaths. The inflorescence is a slender, one-sided, sometimes slightly nodding raceme or narrow panicle 1 to 5 centimetres long, bearing widely spaced, appressed spikelets on very short pedicels. Each spikelet is 5 to 10 millimetres long and contains three to six florets, with unequal lanceolate glumes, the lower very small and the upper distinctly longer; the lemmas are scabrid above and tipped with a short straight awn 1 to 4 millimetres long. The caryopsis is narrowly elongate and grooved. Native to dry, calcareous, gravelly and rocky open ground in the Mediterranean basin and adjacent parts of Europe and western Asia.
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional American Uses
None Documented
Chemistry & External Identifiers
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.