Taxon Report

Festuca minutiflora Rydb.

small-flowered fescue

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Taxon Summary

Festuca minutiflora, commonly known as small-flowered fescue, is a perennial herb in the Poaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Alpine boulder and rock field, growing at elevations from 3200 to 4050 meters. Festuca minutiflora is ranked 2B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.


  Classification

Scientific Name:
Festuca minutiflora Rydb.
Common Name:
small-flowered fescue
Family: Poaceae
Element Code: PMPOA2V1M0
USDA Plants Symbol: FEMI3
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial herb
Blooming Period: Jul Jul
Elevation: 3200-4050 (10500-13290)
General Habitats: Alpine boulder and rock field
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Total Occurrences: 6
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 0
   Good (B) 2
   Fair (C) 0
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 0
   Unknown (U) 4
California Endemic:  False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Mono (MNO), Tuolumne (TUO)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Chalfant Valley (3711853), Juniper Mtn. (3711862), Koip Peak (3711972), Mount Dana (3711982), Mt. Barcroft (3711852), Mt. Patterson (3811943), Tioga Pass (3711983), White Mtn. Peak (3711863)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 3
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
1 17 %
Mining 1 16%
ORV activity 1 16%
Recreational use (non-ORV) 1 16%

Notes

Can be confused with F. brachyphylla. See Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 32(11):608 (1905) for original description.
Threats:
Taxonomy:
Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 21 February 2025].