Relatives
Poa chaixii Vill. - broadleaf bluegrass.
Systematic position.
Family Poaceae Barnhart, genus Poa L.Morphology and biology.
Perennial, gray-green grass with short runners. Height reaches 100 cm. Leaves are wide, flat, soft. Upper cauline leaf is 5-9 mm wide with pointed top; this leaf is much shorter than the sheath. Sheaths of lower leaves are very wide and depressed, with two sides and winged keel on the back (wing is 0.6-0.8 mm wide). Inflorescence is pyramidal panicle, with drooping, light green spikelets. Lower floral glume is 3-4 mm long. Callus is bare. It is cross-pollinated and wind-pollinated. Flowering and ripening occur during June and July. Plant undergoes seed and vegetative reproduction. Chromosomal number 2n=14.Distribution.
Occurs in the European region of the former USSR (Carpathian Mountains). In the northwestern and central European region, the species has been introduced. Also occurs in the Caucasus (The Big Caucasus: .upper Chegem.), Scandinavia (south), Atlantic and Middle Europe, Mediterranean countries, and North America (introduced).Ecology.
Species occurs in sub-alpine meadows, forest meadows and light forests as high as the upper mountain zone.Economic value.
Lawn grass. Species is used in landscaping moderately shady sites.Reference citations:
Cherepanov S.K. 1995. Plantae Vasculares Rossicae et Civitatum Collimitanearum (in limics USSR olim) [List of Vascular Plants of Russia]. St. Petersburg: Mir I Semia, 990 pp. (In Russian)Tzvelev N.N. 1976. Poaceae USSR. Leningrad: Nauka, 788 pp. (In Russian)