Poa pratensis

Panicle of meadow bluegrass

The Kentucky bluegrass ( Poa pratensis) is one of the most widespread and most commonly seeded for lawn and pasture grasses ( Poaceae ) of Europe.

Features

The loose carpet-forming, perennial grass usually reaches stature heights of 20 to 60 cm and its color is bright green to gray- green. Some subspecies are distinctly smaller or blue green frosting. The leaves are about 5 mm wide, with some subspecies also significantly narrower. Their edges are parallel and contracted above into a short hood -shaped tip. The ligule is present but rarely over 2 mm long.

The loosely upright and pyramidal in outline panicle consists of numerous 4-6 mm long spikelets. Often, the panicle is purple, also crowded blackish in the mountains. The lowest branches of the panicle are usually four of us, sometimes three or five. The two lemmas are clearly five annoying and hang out with their shaggy hair usually together. Rooting consists of long underground Kriechtrieben, fine wispy sprout roots and ausfsteigenden Leaves and shoots sprouts. The flowering season lasts from May to July.

Dissemination

The Kentucky bluegrass is present in temperate areas all over the Northern Hemisphere ( Eurasia, North Africa, North America). After Australia it has been introduced. In Central Europe it is widespread and common, from the lowlands to the high alpine areas.

It grows like on rich, not too wet and not too dry meadows, alpine pastures, along roadsides or in waste places.

Others

The Kentucky bluegrass is one of the most valuable forage grasses and is often sown in pastures. Also, most grass seed mixtures contain it at a good percentage, as it is relatively crush-resistant and tolerates drought well.

Because of its abundance, it heard during its heyday of the main causes of hay fever.

There are numerous subspecies and forms, which in appearance and usability of the part may differ significantly.

The species Poa pratensis has been with her, especially in Kentucky because of the soil conditions, often blue-green leaves of the genre Bluegrass her name.

The bluegrass is commonly affected by Wiesenrispenrost.