Festuca virdula
Bunchgrass
aka Green-leaf Fescue. There are 33 genera (85 species) of grasses in the flora of MRNP. Most are hard to distinguish, or even see, lost in the forest understory, streambanks or meadows, but bunchgrass is the key attraction of the “dry grass” meadows of Sunrise. The high (6,500’+) subalpine environmental here is much drier than Paradise and bunchgrass is the dominant species. While not showy the flower are borne in a small structure called a spikelet. The small clumps grow to 16″ – 32″ (40 – 80 cm) tall. The dry grass “community” will also include Cascade Aster, Western Anemone, Cusick’s Veronica, paintbrush , cinquefoil and other showy plants.
Family:
Poaceae - GRASS FAMILY
Genus:
Festuca from Latin festuca 'a grass stalk or straw'
Species:
virdula meaning 'somewhat green'
Photo location: From several locations but predominantly the dry grass meadows above Sunrise.
Photo A – Dry-Grass Vegetation Type meadow above (north of) Sunrise Visitor Center.
Photo B – Magenta Paintbrush and Fan-leaf Cinquefoil in the Sunrise meadow; Showy Sedge and Davis Knotweed in the foreground.
