The Identification of

POA TRIVIALIS

PG30R.JPG (9130 bytes)

9. Poa trivialis L. Rough Bluegrass, Rough-Stalked Bluegrass, Rough-Stalked Meadowgrass.

   A bright green perennial spreading by stolons and growing in rich soil in wet meadows, ditches and cultivated fields; not very common except where recently seeded.

   Leaves folded in the bud-shoot. Sheath compressed and sharply keeled, generally scabrous, green or purple tinted, split part way only. Auricles absent. Collar broad, distinct, glabrous, divided by the midrib. Ligule membranous, 2 to 3 mm. long, acute, entire or ciliate. Blade 2 to 4.5 mm. wide, 7 to 15 cm. long, flat, tapering from the base to the tip which is narrowly boat-shaped, yellowish green, slightly retrorsely scabrous on upper surface, .glossy and keeled on lower surface; median lines not prominent; margins scabrous.

   This grass resembles a few other species of Poa but may be distinguished by its scabrous sheath and the glossy under-surface of the blade.