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Festuca dasyclada

Hack. ex Beal

Sedge Fescue

G3Vulnerable Found in 3 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G3VulnerableGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.130440
Element CodePMPOA2V090
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderCyperales
FamilyPoaceae
GenusFestuca
Synonyms
Argillochloa dasyclada(Hack. ex Beal) W.A. Weber
Other Common Names
Oil Shale Fescue (EN) oil shale fescue (EN) Utah Fescue (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-04-28
Change Date1984-01-19
Edition Date2025-04-28
Edition AuthorsPeterson, J.S., rev. D. Atwood, rev. Lyon, P. (2008), rev. N. Ventrella (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
Festuca dasyclada is a perennial grass which is narrowly restricted to shale and limestone barren scree slopes or sparsely vegetated communities in open forests and shrublands of the western United States; in northwestern Colorado and central and southern Utah. There are an estimated 27 occurrences of this species, which are threatened by oil and gas development, livestock grazing, road construction and maintenance, and off-road vehicles. Many populations are located on lands owned by private oil companies, where they are vulnerable to impacts related to oil and gas development.
Range Extent Comments
Festuca dasyclada occurs in the western United States, where it is known from northwestern Colorado and central and southern Utah (FNA 2007). Specifically, it is found in Emery, Wasatch, Sanpete, and Garfield counties, Utah and on the Piceance Basin and Roan Plateau region of Colorado in Garfield, Rio Blanco, and Mesa counties (O'Kane 1988, CNHP 2022). Herbarium specimens collected in 1998 from Gunnison County, Colorado, in the Fossil Ridge Wilderness need verification (for example, K. Taylor 7565 (RM)) (SEINet 2025). Range extent was estimated using data from the Utah Rare Plant Database, herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1994 and 2025 (Utah Natural Heritage Program 2021, GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to data from the Utah Rare Plant Database, herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1994 and 2025, it is estimated that there are 27 occurrences rangewide (Utah Natural Heritage Program 2021, GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025). The Colorado Natural Heritage Program tracks 18 occurrences of this species (CNHP 2022). The Utah Natural Heritage Program estimates that there are eight occurrences of Festuca dasyclada, using a 2 km separation distance and excluding historical observations over 40 years old (UNHP 2024).
Threat Impact Comments
Festuca dasyclada occurs on shale outcrops and is primarily threatened by oil and gas development (O'Kane 1988, CNHP 2022), which can directly impact plants through topographic alteration, changes to vegetation community composition, and changes to surface and sub-surface hydrology (NatureServe 2025). Indirect effects of oil and gas development also include invasion by non-native plants species, and competition with other non-native vegetation established at decommissioned sites through reclamation efforts. The construction of new roads, road maintenance activities, livestock grazing, and recreation by off-road vehicles are all additional threats to Festuca dasyclada.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Festuca dasyclada occurs "on rocky slopes in open forests and shrublands" (FNA 2007). In Utah, it is found in Eriogonum, Collomia, Louisiana wormwood, rabbitbrush, Elymus, Ribes, and Phacelia in sagebrush, mountain brush and juniper communities on dry rocky slopes of the Green River Shale and Flagstaff and Claron limestone Formations from 8,200 to 10,200 feet in elevation (Utah Native Plant Society 2025). In Colorado, it is found on barren scree slopes or sparsely vegetated communities with Pseudotsuga menziesii (O'Kane 1988).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - ConiferWoodland - ConiferShrubland/chaparralDesertBare rock/talus/scree
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
UtahS2Yes
ColoradoS3Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranchingUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
2.3.4 - Scale unknown/unrecordedUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
3 - Energy production & miningUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
3.1 - Oil & gas drillingUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
4 - Transportation & service corridorsUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
4.1 - Roads & railroadsUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
6 - Human intrusions & disturbanceUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
6.1 - Recreational activitiesUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (3)
Utah (3)
AreaForestAcres
418009Uinta National Forest18,064
418017Uinta National Forest19,631
418018Uinta National Forest11,218
References (18)
  1. Alexander, J. 2016. The Utah Native Plant Society Rare Plant List: Version 2. Calochortiana. 3: 1-248.
  2. Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP). 2022. Element Subnational Ranking Form: <i>Festuca dasyclada</i> in Biotics 5 database. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  3. Emrich, S. 1978. Status Report for <i>Aquilegia barnebyi</i>. Unpublished.
  4. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2007a. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 24. Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Poaceae, part 1. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxviii + 911 pp.
  5. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
  6. iNaturalist. 2025. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2025).
  7. Irvine, J.R., West, N.E. and A.H. Holmgren.1978. Rediscovery of <i>Festuca dasyclada</i> and range extensions of <i>Astragalus lutosus</i> and <i>Ceanothus martinii</i> in Colorado. Southwestern Naturalist 23(1): 156-157.
  8. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  9. NatureServe. 2025. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  10. O'Kane, S.L. 1988. Colorado's rare flora. Great Basin Naturalist 48(4): 434-484.
  11. Peterson, J.S. and W.L. Baker. 1982. Inventory of the Piceance Basin, Colorado: Threatened and endangered plants, plant associations, and the general flora. Unpublished report prepared for the BLM, Craig District Office, by Colorado Natural Heritage.
  12. <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
  13. Scheck, C. 1994. Special Status Plants Handbook Glenwood Springs Resource Area. Unpublished report prepared for the Bureau of Land Management, Glenwood Springs, CO.
  14. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2025. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2025).
  15. Utah Native Plant Society. 2003-2025. Utah rare plant guide. Utah Native Plant Society, Salt Lake City, UT. Online. Available: https://www.utahrareplants.org. (accessed 2025).
  16. Utah Natural Heritage Program. 2021. Utah Rare Plant Database. (Accessed 2021).
  17. Utah Natural Heritage Program (UNHP). 2024. Element Subnational Ranking Form: <i>Festuca dasyclada</i> in Biotics 5 database. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia (accessed 28 April 2025).
  18. Wiley-Eberle, K.L. 1980. Threatened and Endangered Plant Species: Habitat Classifications, Descriptions, and Associated Plant Species. Unpublished Report Prepared for the Colorado Natural Areas Program, Denver CO.