Grass family (Poaceae family):
Poa spp.
EPPO code:
POASP
Other names:
June grass, summer grass

Species information

Lifecycle:
Most bluegrass species are perennial, except annual bluegrass, which is annual.
Propagation:
Whether annual or perennial, all bluegrass species reproduce by seed and rhizomes.

Identification clues

Auricles:
Absent.
Ligule:
Membraneous.
Leaf blade:
The plant’s leaf blade is narrow, smooth and folded lengthwise with a bow- shaped tip.
Best advice:
It is very difficult to identify specific bluegrass species. Generally, if you see a grassy species that has a membraneous ligule and leaf blades that are narrow, smooth and folded with a bow-shaped tip (like the front of boat) then it could possibly be a Poa species. Oftentimes, if a farmer or agronomist thinks they have a bluegrass species, they will wait until the specimen has headed and then send it to the Ontario Agriculture College herbarium to have it appropriately identified. In the past we have commonly had confirmation of the following four species throughout cultivated fields in Ontario: annual bluegrass, Canada bluegrass, fowl meadow grass and roughstalk bluegrass.

To contact the OAC Herbarium, call 519-824-4120 Extension 58581.

The membraneous ligule
The membraneous ligule.
A small tuft of annual blue grass found on heavy clay in early May
A small tuft of annual blue grass found on heavy clay in early May.
Several tufts of annual blue grass starting to flower and with their narrow, folded and bow-shaped leaf blade tips
Several tufts of annual blue grass starting to flower and with their narrow, folded and bow-shaped leaf blade tips.
A clump of rough stalk blue grass during mid-May
A clump of rough stalk blue grass during mid-May.
A heavy infestation of annual blue grass that has headed and is competing with winter wheat
A heavy infestation of annual blue grass that has headed and is competing with winter wheat.