Relatives

Poa angustifolia L. - Narrow-leaf bluegrass

Taxonomical position.

Family Poaceae Benth., Genera Poa L.

Morphology and biology.

This species is a long-term cereal. The plant forms small, dense tussocks with creeping rhizomes. Stalks reach heights of 5-80 cm. Leaves curled, less often flat, 0.5-2 mm wide; the top leaf is 0.5-7 cm long; spikelets 3.5-5 (6) mm long, with 2-4, less often 5-6, flowers. The bottom floral scales reach lengths of 2.5-3 mm. Blossoms in May-June. This species is anemophilous and apomictic. Chromosome number: 2n=56 (46-72).

Distribution.

Occurs throughout the European part of the former USSR, Western Siberia, Eastern Siberia, the Far East, Northern and Eastern Kazakhstan, mountainous areas of Central Asia, Europe, Asia Minor, Iran, the Himalayas, Central Asia, and East Asia.

Ecology.

This species grows in dry meadows, among sands and pebbles, in wood glades, sometimes in fields, along roads, and in settlements.

Use and economic value.

This plant is used as a fodder plant.

Reference citations:

Hulten E., Fries M. 1986. Atlas of Northern European Vascular Plants North of the Tropic of Cancer. Vol. 1-3. Konigstein. 1172 p.
Kharkevich S.S., ed. 1985. Vascular plants of the Soviet Far East. Vol. 1. Leningrad: Nauka. 398 p.
Malyshev L.I., Peshkova G.A., eds. 1979. Flora of Central Siberia. Vol. 1. Onocleaceae-Saxifragaceae. Novosibirsk: Nauka. 431 p.
Malyshev L.I., Peshkova G.A., eds. 1990. Flora of Siberia. Vol. 2. Poaceae (Gramineae). Novosibirsk: Nauka. 361 p.
Shelyag-Sosonko Yu.R., ed. 1977. Cereals of Ukraine. Kiev: Naukova Dumka. 518 p.
Tzvelev N.I., ed. 1974. Flora of the Northeast of the European part of the USSR. Vol. 1. Families Polypodiaceae-Gramineae. Leningrad: Nauka. 275 p.
Tzvelev N.N. 1976. Cereals of the USSR. Leningrad: Nauka. 788 p.

© L.L. Malyshev

 

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