Relatives
Poa compressa L. - Canadian bluegrass.
Taxonomic position.
Family Poaceae Barnhart., genus Poa L.Biology and morphology.
Perennial grass, cespitous with long rhizomes. Stems are compressed, glabrous, 10.0-40.0 cm tall. Leaf sheathes are carinate. Panicle-like inflorescence, slightly spreading, is 2.0-3.0 cm long. Spikelets are up to 4.0 mm long. Glumes are equal to each other in size. Lemma is glabrous or with minimal pubescence along lateral ribs. Blossoms in June; seeds ripen in August. Facultative cross-pollinated by wind. 2n = 14, 35, 42.Distribution.
Occurs throughout the European part of former USSR, the Caucasus, and the Far East.Ecology.
Adapted to a large range of climatic conditions and soil humidity. Occurs in et meadows, on sandy and stony slopes, along rivers and roads, and as ruderal plant in populated places.Utilization and economic value.
An excellent lawn plant. Good pasture grass. Tolerates heavy grazing. Good palatability for cattle, sheep, goats and horses. Improves soil fertility and structure. Used for erosion control.Literature cited:
Brezhnev D.D., Korovina O.N. 1980. Wild relatives of the cultivated plants of flora of the USSR. L.: Kolos, 376 pp. (in Russian).Fedorov A.A., ed. 1974. Flora of the European part of the USSR. Vol. 1. L.: Nauka, 404 pp. (in Russian).
Grossheim A.A. 1939. Flora of the Caucasus. Vol. 2. Polypodiaceae-Gramineae. Baku: Publishing house AzFaN. 587 p.
Harkevich S.S., ed. 1985. Vascular Plants of the Soviet Far East. Vol. 5. St. Petersburg: Nauka, 390 p. (in Russian)
Hulten E., Fries M. 1986. Atlas of Northern European Vascular Plants North of the Tropic of Cancer. Vol. 1-3. Konigstein, 1172 p.
Kovalevskaja S.S., ed. 1968. Conspect of Middle Asian Flora. Vol. 1. Taschkent: AN Uzbekistan SSR, 226 pp. (in Russian).
Malyshev L.I., Peshkova G.A., eds. 1990. Flora of Siberia. Vol. 2. Novosibirsk: Nauka, 361 pp. (in Russian).
Malyshev L.I., Peshkova G.A., eds. 1979. Flora of Central Siberia. Vol. 1. Novosibirsk: Nauka, 536 pp. (In Russian)
Rodjevitz P.U., Schischkin V.K., eds. 1937. Flora of the USSR. Vol. 2. M.-L.: USSR, 778 pp. (in Russian).
Shelyag-Sosonko Y.P., ed. 1977. Grasses of Ukraine. Kiev: Naukova Dumka, 518 pp. (in Russian).
Tzvelev N.N. 1976. Poaceae USSR. L.: Nauka, 788 pp. (in Russian).