A cool - season perennial , grandiloquent fescue ( Festuca arundinacea ) grows in clumps and is wide used as an animal forage during the fall and winter . During the summer and outpouring , the smoke contains toxic alkaloids . When grown as a lawn or turfgrass , tall fescue produces yr - circular green color , vigorous growth , wear opposition and shade tolerance . It has spread widely throughout most of the United States and Canada , according to the Missouri Department of Conservation .
Symbiotic Relationship
Tall fescue shares a symbiotic family relationship with a fungus known as " endophyte . " The fungus endure in the cadre of the grass but does no damage to the host . Within the host the endophyte produce alkaloids that render the grass unpalatable to insects and nematodes . The fungus also appears to give the tall Festuca elatior increased heat and drought tolerance , according to the Southern Illinois University .
Stem Production
In the spring the tall fescue grass bring forth young leaf blade . At the stem of each steel the endophyte fungus develops . In May the grass begins to broadcast out base in preparation for replication . The endophyte fungus moves into the stem turn which helps protect them from being consumed by livestock or insect , harmonise to the West Virginia University . On the top of each root word a cum head begins to form .
Seed Development and Dispersal
The endophyte move from the stems of the grass into the seed heads . Once the endophyte enrol the seed capitulum of the tall meadow fescue seeds are produced . The endophyte accede the seeds . The wind disperses the seeds . When the seeds come into contact with the filth , sprouting begins . Each of the Modern germ contains the endophyte fungus so the oscillation begins again . After the seeds form and disperse , the tall fescue sess continues to grow into the fall .
Turf and Lawn
magniloquent Festuca elatior is widely develop as a turf and lawn grass . It offers surpassing wear leeway , which makes it an idealistic sess for parks and golf - class . The grass grow rapidly and spreads using small rhizome . The grass grow well in water - log area and offers drought margin once set up . During severe drought the grass goes dormant and does not grow , harmonize to the Texas A & M University .
Care
improbable fescue require frequent mowing when grown as a lawn or turf grass . It enjoys a mop height of 2 to 3.5 inches , accord to the University of Illinois . Spreading 6 to 9 pounds of tall fescue per 1,000 square feet produces a lush lawn . The grass promptly fan out when ground through rhizomes . Tall fescue does not educate Blackbeard when farm as a lawn because of its clopping ability .
