Relatives
Poa bulbosa L. - Bulbous bluegrass
Taxonomical position.
Family Poaceae Benth., genus Poa L.Morphology and biology.
This species is a perennial cereal. The plant forms small, friable tussocks. Stalks reach heights of 10-50 cm. Leaves are narrow. Panicle is dense, compressed. Spikelet is 3.5-7 mm long, ovate, with 4-8 (12) flowers. Spikelet scales widely ovate, thin, pointed; the bottom floral scales are 2.75-3.5 mm long. This plant blossoms in April-June. Species is anemophilous; apomitic. The viviparous form is known as Poa bulbosa var. vivipara Koel. (= Poa bulbosa subsp. vivipara (Koel.) Arcang.). Chromosome number: 2n=28, 42 (14-45).Distribution.
Occurs to the west of the coniferous broadleaf zones in the European part of the former USSR up to the basin of Oka, as well as in Ukraine, the Caucasus, the Lower and Central Volga regions, Southern Ural, Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Southern and Central Europe, and Western China.Ecology.
This species grows in steppes and semi-deserts, along sandy and pebbly riverbanks, and in stony slopes.Use and economic value.
This species is used as a fodder plant.Reference citations:
Grossheim A.A. 1939. Flora of the Caucasus. Vol. 2. Polypodiaceae-Gramineae. Baku: Publishing house AzFaN. 587 p.Hulten E., Fries M. 1986. Atlas of Northern European Vascular Plants North of the Tropic of Cancer. Vol. 1-3. Konigstein, 1172 p.
Shelyag-Sosonko Yu.R., ed. 1977. Cereals of Ukraine. Kiev: Naukova Dumka, 518 p.
Tzvelev N.N. 1976. Cereals of the USSR. Leningrad: Nauka, 788 p.