Poa bulbosa L.

Bulbous Bluegrass

© DETenaglia

Family - Poaceae/Poeae

Stems - No info. yet.

Leaves - No info. yet.

	Arrow shows boat-shaped tip of leaf.
© DETenaglia

	Ligule.
© DETenaglia

Inflorescence - No info. yet.

Flowers - No info. yet.

	Florets.
© DETenaglia

Flowering - April - June.

Habitat - Waste ground, railroads, cultivated fields.

Origin - Native to Europe.

Other info. - This weedy grass can be found in scattered counties throughout most of Missouri. The plant is very easy to identify because of its bulbous florets. The bulbils are high in starch and have a fair amount of fat so they are eaten by wildlife.
This species was first experimented with in the U.S. in 1907 and was soon after planted with alfalfa to retard the growth of weeds. It has since spread over much of the U.S. and is considered a noxious weed in many areas.
Plants of the genus Poa have "boat-shaped" leaf tips. The apical edges of the leaves converge and unite at the apex to form a leaf with the appearance of a boat's hull. This can be a good character to look for when trying to identify grasses in the field.

Photographs taken near Tom's Creek, NC., 4-20-03.