Tall Oatgrass vs Tall Fescue
This guide is under construction and has not been published yet. It may have errors. When in doubt, double-check other sources for definitive ID.These two grasses, both introduced in North America, are frequently confused when tall, flowering plants are growing in wild or semi-wild habitats. They can be easily distinguished by the awns on their spikelets. Tall fescue is frequently grown as a turfgrass, and ranges farther south and into the interior of the US. Tall oatgrass is usually only found in weedy areas, and is more common in the northeast, rarer in the south, and mostly absent from the great plains.
Tall Oatgrass (Arrhenatherum elatius) | Tall Fescue (Lolium arundinaceum) |
 Spikelets have long awns (10-20mm) arising from lower portions of each spikelet, not the tip. Photo © Dominic Gentilcore, CC BY 4.0. |  Spikelets have short awns (to 4mm) or may lack awns entirely. Awns, when present, arise from the tip of spikelets. Photo © Sam Kieschnick, CC BY 4.0. |
References & External Resources
These short lists show only links helpful for ID. For a complete list of references and resources also covering other aspects of ecology, visit the links section of the full article on each plant, which is the first entry here.
