Plants densely cespitose, with-out rhizomes. Culms 15–65 cm, glabrous, smooth. Sheaths closed for less than 1/2 their length, lower sheaths glabrous or retrorsely hirsute, persistent, upper sheaths glabrous; collars glabrous; ligules (0.2)0.3–0.5(1) mm; blades all alike, 0.4–0.8 mm in diameter, conduplicate, abaxial surfaces sparsely scabrous, adaxial surfaces scabrous to pubescent, veins 5–7, ribs (1)3–5; abaxial sclerenchyma in (3)5–7 narrow to broad strands, usually wider than the adjacent veins; adaxial sclerenchyma absent. Inflorescences 5–15 cm, loosely contracted, with 1–2(3) branches per node; branches erect, lower branches with 2+ spikelets. Spikelets (6)7–9(11) mm, with (2)4–6 florets. Glumes exceeded by the upper florets, lanceolate, scabrous distally; lower glumes 2.5–4 mm; upper glumes (2.8)3–5 mm; lemmas (3.8)4–6 mm, glabrous, smooth or scabrous distally, awns 1–2.5 mm; paleas slightly shorter than the lemmas, intercostal region scabrous or puberulent distally; anthers 2.2–3.5 mm; ovary apices sparsely pubescent. 2n = 28.
Festuca calligera is a poorly known, often overlooked species. It grows in grasslands and open montane forests, at 2500–3400 m, from southern Utah to south-central Wyoming and central Colorado, south to Arizona and New Mexico. It is often found with F. arizonica. Festuca calligera has frequently been included in F. ovina.