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Poa pratensis

(Redirected fromKentucky Bluegrass)
"Kentucky bluegrass" redirects here. For the region of the state of Kentucky, seeBluegrass region.For the genre of music, seeBluegrass music.

Poa pratensis,commonly known asKentucky bluegrass(orblue grass),smooth meadow-grass,orcommon meadow-grass,is aperennialspecies ofgrassnative to practically all ofEurope,North Asiaand the mountains ofAlgeriaandMorocco.There is disagreement about its native status inNorth America,with some sources considering it native[3][4][5]and others stating theSpanish Empirebrought the seeds of Kentucky bluegrass to theNew Worldin mixtures with other grasses.[6]It is a common and incredibly popular lawn grass in North America with the species being spread over all of the cool, humid parts of theUnited States.In its native range,Poa pratensisforms a valuable pasture plant, characteristic of well-drained, fertile soil. It is also used for makinglawnsinparksandgardensand has established itself as a commoninvasiveweed across cool moisttemperate climateslike thePacific Northwestand theNortheastern United States.When found on nativegrasslandsinCanada,for example, it is considered an unwelcomeexotic plant,and is indicative of a disturbed and degraded landscape.[7][8]

Poa pratensis
Scientific classificationEdit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Pooideae
Genus: Poa
Species:
P. pratensis
Binomial name
Poa pratensis

Taxonomy

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Poa pratensiswas one of the many species described byCarl Linnaeusin his landmark workSpecies Plantarumin 1753.PoaisGreekforfodderandpratensisis derived frompratum,theLatinformeadow.The name Kentucky bluegrass derives from its flower heads, which are blue when the plant is allowed to grow to its natural height of 60 to 90 cm (2 to 3 feet).[9]

Poa pratensisis thetype speciesof the grass familyPoaceae.

There are two ill-defined subspecies:

  • Poa pratensissubsp.pratensis– temperate regions
  • Poa pratensissubsp.colpodea– Arctic

Description

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Poa pratensisis aherbaceousperennial plant 30–70 centimetres (12–28 in) tall. Theleaveshave boat-shaped tips, narrowly linear, up to 20 centimetres (8 in) long and 3–5 millimetres (0.12–0.20 in) broad, smooth or slightly roughened, with a rounded to truncate ligule 1–2 millimetres (0.039–0.079 in) long. The conicalpanicleis 5–20 centimetres (2–8 in) long, with 3 to 5 branches in the basal whorls; the ovalspikeletsare 3–6 millimetres (0.12–0.24 in) long with 2 to 5florets,and are purplish-green or grey. They are in flower from May to July, compared to annual meadowgrass (Poa annua) which is in flower for eight months of the year.Poa pratensishas a fairly prominent mid-vein (center of the blade).

Theliguleis extremely short and square-ended, making a contrast with annual meadowgrass (Poa annua) and rough meadowgrass (Poa trivialis) in which it is silvery and pointed. The Kentucky bluegrass is a dark green/blue compared to the apple-green color ofPoa annuaandPoa trivialis.

Therootstockis creeping, with runners (rhizomes). The broad, blunt leaves tend to spread at the base, forming close mats.

Ecology

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Myrmus miriformisinPřerov,Czech Republic

Poa pratensisis among the food plants of the caterpillars of themeadow brown(Maniola jurtina),gatekeeper(Pyronia tithonus), andpepper-and-salt skipperbutterflies; the common sun beetle (Amara aenea) (adults feed on the developing seeds),Eupelix cuspidataof theleafhopperfamily, andMyrmus miriformis,a grassbug (feeds on young blades and developing seeds).[10]

Poa pratensisis host to a number offungi,includingClaviceps purpurea,which causesergotismwhen consumed,Drechslera poae,Epichloë typhina,Phaeoseptoria poae,Puccinia brachypodiivar.poae-nemoralis,Stagonospora montagnei,Stagonospora nodorumandWojnowicia hirta.[11]

Cultivation and production

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TheCentral Kentucky Blue Grass Seed Company Buildingis on the National Register of Historic Places. Since the 1950s and early 1960s, 90% of Kentucky bluegrass seed in the United States has been produced on specialist farms inIdaho,OregonandWashington.

During the 1990s[citation needed]botanists began experimenting with hybrids ofPoa pratensisand Texas bluegrass (P. arachnifera), with the goal of creating adroughtand heat-resistant lawn grass. In warm climates, such hybrids may remain green year-round.[12]

Bella Bluegrass is a brand-named dwarf variant ofPoa pratentisdeveloped by theUniversity of Nebraska.It has relatively deep roots and propagates relatively rapidly horizontally from its root system but grows to only 2–5 inches (5–13 cm) in above-ground height, basically eliminating the need formowinglawns that use it. It cannot be reproduced by seed and thus depends onsod plugsorspriggingfor its production.[13]

NFL playing surfaces[14]

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MLB playing surfaces[15]

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  • Closeup of flowers

References

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  1. ^Maiz-Tome, L. (2016)."Poa pratensis".IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.2016:e.T176440A78457132.doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T176440A78457132.en.Retrieved15 November2024.
  2. ^NatureServe."Poa pratensis".NatureServe Explorer.Arlington, Virginia.Retrieved9 December2024.
  3. ^Gleason, Henry A. (Henry Allan) (1991).Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada.Internet Archive. The Bronx, N.Y.: New York Botanical Garden.ISBN978-0-89327-365-1.
  4. ^"Poa Pratensis".University of Texas Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center.RetrievedSeptember 10,2024.
  5. ^"Element Stewardship Abstract for Poa pratensis, Poa compressa Kentucky Bluegrass, Canada Bluegrass"(PDF).invasives.org.RetrievedSeptember 10,2024.
  6. ^Martin Anderson, Texas AgriLife Extension Service."Kentucky Bluegrass".Aggie Horticulture.
  7. ^Ksenija Vujnovic; Ross W. Wein (September 1997)."An Inventory of Remnant Prairie Grasslands Within the Central Parkland Natural Sub-Region of Alberta"(PDF).p. 5.
  8. ^"There Are More Than a Dozen Types of Grass — Here's How to Know Which One You Have".Popular Mechanics.2022-03-15.Retrieved2023-08-31.
  9. ^Ryen, Dag (June 3, 1993)."What Makes Kentucky's Bluegrass Blue".The New York Times.p. 22.Retrieved2018-06-15.
  10. ^Natural England description on websiteArchived2009-02-23 at theWayback Machine
  11. ^Helgi Hallgrímsson & Guðríður Gyða Eyjólfsdóttir (2004).Íslenskt sveppatal I - smásveppir[Checklist of Icelandic Fungi I - Microfungi.Fjölrit Náttúrufræðistofnunar. Náttúrufræðistofnun Íslands [Icelandic Institute of Natural History]. ISSN 1027-832X
  12. ^"Texas Bluegrass Hybrids – Bluegrass Research – Research – Bremer – Turf Information".Kansas State University Research and Extension.2004-11-04.Retrieved2022-03-19.
  13. ^Grant, Bonnie L. (15 February 2023)."What Is Bella Grass: Information On No Mow Bella Turf Grass".Gardening Know-How.Retrieved2023-02-21.
  14. ^Abdalazem, Reem; Roche, Calum (September 14, 2023) [2023-09-09]."What NFL stadiums have real grass and which ones have artificial turf? The full list".en.as.as.Archivedfrom the original on October 11, 2023.RetrievedOctober 11,2023.
  15. ^Butler, Sara (June 17, 2022)."All about the turf grass at your favorite MLB ballpark".lawnlove.Lawn Love.Archivedfrom the original on March 11, 2023.RetrievedMarch 10,2023.

Further reading

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