This alien is a hexaploid (2n = 42) that has been widely distributed under the names "sheep's fescue" or "hard fescue" as a durable turf grass and soil stabilizer (FNA 24). In Ky. it has been persisted much in drier lawns and roadsides. Mapped colls. here may come from truly naturalized plants, but persistence from direct plantings cannot be ruled out. There has been much confusion with ovina and rubra, and further checking of identifications is needed. F. trachyphylla differs from ovina in its more distinctly ribbed blades and its generally larger spikelets; see FNA 24 for details.