Vulpia octoflora var. octoflora (Walter) Rydb.
six-weeks grass (sixweeks fescue; six-weeks fescue)
Poaceae (Grass family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Jamie Fenneman     (Photo ID #25172)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Vulpia octoflora
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Species Information

General:
Annual, loosely tufted grass from fibrous roots; stems sometimes solitary, erect (sometimes bent or angled at the lower nodes), (3) 6-30 (60) cm tall.
Leaves:
Sheaths smooth or the lower ones usually short-hairy with the hairs directed downward; blades flat or rolled, smooth or short-hairy, to 1 mm wide; ligules 0.2-0.7 mm long.
Flowers:
Inflorescence a narrowly erect panicle (sometimes reduced to a raceme), (1) 2-7 (20) cm long; spikelets 4-10 mm long (excluding the awns), 5- to 11- (17-) flowered, the florets closely overlapping; glumes smooth or short-hairy, the lower glumes 1- to 3-nerved, (1.7) 2-4.5 mm long, the upper glumes 3-nerved, (2.7) 3.5-5.5 (6.7) mm long; lemmas smooth or short-hairy, lanceolate, 2.7-5 (6.5) mm long, the terminal awns (0.3) 1.5-4.5 (9) mm long; rachilla internodes usually 0.5-0.7 mm long; anthers 1 (rarely 2 or 3), (0.3) 1-3.3 mm long.
Notes:
Three poorly separated varieties are sometimes recognized on the basis of floret size and hairiness. All of these phases can be found in BC.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Vulpia octoflora

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
600 87 2005
Slope Gradient (%)
25 0 360

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

190 5 360
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
2 0 7
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
C
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
277
Modal BEC Zone Class
BG

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

BG(156), CWH(1), ESSF(1), ICH(7), IDF(35), PP(63)

Habitat and Range

Mesic to dry slopes and plains, open forests, roadsides and disturbed areas in the lowland and montane zones; frequent in SC and SE BC; E to PQ and NB and S to ME, MA, PA, NC, FL, MS, LA, TX, NM, AZ, CA and MX.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Vulpia octoflora var. glauca (Nutt.) Fernald
Vulpia octoflora var. hirtella (Piper) Henr.
Vulpia octoflora var. octoflora (Walter) Rydb.