4a. var. glauca (Nutt.) Fernald

Festuca octoflora var. glauca (Nutt.) Fernald

F. octoflora var. tenella (Willd.) Fernald

V. octoflora var. tenella (Willd.) Fernald

Spikelets 4–6 mm long (excluding the awns), mostly with more than 8 florets. Lemmas with the body 2.5–4.5 mm long, awnless or the awn 0.5–3.0 mm long. 2n=14. April–June.

Common to scattered throughout Missouri (northern U.S. and adjacent Canada south sporadically to Georgia and California). Dry upland forests, glades, and prairies, usually on acidic substrates; also pastures, fallow fields, mine spoils, roadsides, railroads, and open, dry, disturbed areas.