Poa Explained

Poa^[1] is a genus of about 570 species of grasses, native to the temperate regions of both hemispheres. Common names include meadow-grass (mainly in Europe and Asia), bluegrass (mainly in North America), tussock (some New Zealand species), and speargrass. Poa is Greek for 'fodder'. Poa are members of the subfamily Pooideae of the family Poaceae.^{[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]}

Bluegrass, which has green leaves, derives its name from the seed heads, which are blue when the plant is allowed to grow to its natural height of two to three feet (0.6 to 0.9 meters).^{[7] [8] [9]}

The genus Poa includes both annual and perennial species. Most are monoecious, but a few are dioecious (separate male and female plants). The leaves are narrow, folded or flat, sometimes bristled, and with the basal sheath flattened or sometimes thickened, with a blunt or hooded apex and membranaceous ligule.^{[10] [11] [12]}

Cultivation and uses

Many of the species are important pasture plants, used extensively by grazing livestock. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) is the most extensively used cool-season grass used in lawns, sports fields, and golf courses in the United States.^[13] Annual bluegrass (Poa annua) can sometimes be considered a weed.^[14]

According to second-century physician Galen, the roots of certain species are good for treating fresh wounds and bleeding. In the sixteenth century, Poa grasses were used to treat inflammation of the kidney.^[15]

Some of the Poa species are popular for gardens and for landscaping in New Zealand.

Insect foodplant

Lepidoptera whose caterpillars feed on Poa include:

• Agriphila inquinatella
• Cercyonis pegala (common wood-nymph)
• Poanes hobomok (Hobomok skipper)
• Poanes zabulon (Zabulon skipper)

Selected species

See main article: List of ''Poa'' species.

Notes and References

1. From Greek πόα "grass, meadow."
2. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=126123 Flora of China Vol. 22 Page 257 早熟禾属 zao shu he shu Poa Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 67. 1753
3. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=126123 Flora of Pakistan
4. http://luirig.altervista.org/flora/taxa/floraspecie.php?genere=poa Altervista Flora Italiana, genera Poa
5. Soreng, R. J. & P. M. Peterson. 2012. Revision of Poa L. (Poaceae, Pooideae, Poeae, Poinae) in Mexico: new records, re-evaluation of P. ruprechtii, and two new species, P. palmeri and P. wendtii. PhytoKeys 15: 1–104
6. Web site: Poa L. . Plants of the World Online . Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . 2022 . 23 January 2022.
7. https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE2D7143CF930A35755C0A965958260 What Makes Kentucky's Bluegrass Blue.
8. Longhi-Wagner, H. M. 1987. Gramineae. Tribo Poeae, in Fl. Ilust. Rio Grande do Sul. Boletim do Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul 41: 1–191
9. Zon, A. P. M. v. 1992. Graminées du Cameroun. Wageningen Agricultural University Papers 92–1(2): 1–557
10. Cabi, E. & M. Doğan. 2012. Poaceae. 690–756. In A. Güner, S. Aslan, T. Ekim, M. Vural & M. T. Babaç (eds.) Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi. Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını, Istanbul
11. Gibbs Russell, L. W., M. Koekermoer, L. Smook, N. P. Barker, H. M. Anderson & M. J. Dallwitz. 1990. Grasses of Southern Africa. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa 58: i–ix,.
12. Negritto, M. A. & A. M. Antón. 2000. Revisión de las especies de Poa (Poaceae) del noroeste argentino. Kurtziana 28(1): 95–136
13. Web site: Dvorchak . Robert . Oakmont-inspired Stimpmeter allows USGA to accurately measure speed, consistency of putting surfaces . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . June 13, 2007 . 2007-09-08.
14. Web site: Ohlendorf . B. . D. W. . Cudney . C. L. . Elmore . V. A. . Gibeault . Annual Bluegrass Management Guidelines--UC IPM . University of California . April 2003 . 2007-09-08.
15. Web site: Gerarde . John . The Herball or Generall Historie Of Plantes . 1597 . 2009-01-11.