TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) previous taxon | next taxon
Jepson Interchange (more information)
©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora.

    THIS PAGE IS NO LONGER UPDATED
    AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY
  • Up-to-date information about California vascular plants is available from the Jepson eFlora.

POACEAE

GRASS FAMILY

James P. Smith, Jr., except as specified

Annual to bamboo-like; roots generally fibrous
Stem generally round, hollow; nodes swollen, solid
Leaves alternate, 2-ranked, generally linear; sheath generally open; ligule membranous or hairy, at blade base
Inflorescence various (of generally many spikelets)
Spikelet: glumes generally 2; florets (lemma, palea, flower) 1–many; lemma generally membranous, sometimes glume-like; palea generally ± transparent, ± enclosed by lemma
Flower generally bisexual, minute; stamens generally 3; stigmas generally 2, generally plumose
Fruit: achene-like grain
Genera in family: 650–900 genera; ± 10,000 species: worldwide; greatest economic importance of any family (wheat, rice, maize, millet, sorghum, sugar cane, forage crops, ornamental, weeds; thatching, weaving, building materials)
Reference: [Hitchcock 1951 Manual grasses US, USDA Misc Publ 200; Clayton & Renvoise 1986 Kew Bull Add Series 13]
See Glossary p. 26 for illustrations of general family characteristics. Generally wind-pollinated.

POA

BLUEGRASS

Robert J. Soreng

Annual, perennial herb, some ± dioecious
Stem 0.3–12 dm
Leaf: sheath open to closed (best observed on upper stem leaf); ligule thin, flexible; blade grooved above on both sides of midvein, flat, folded, or inrolled, generally smooth or scabrous on veins, generally prow-tipped
Inflorescence panicle-like; branches appressed to drooping
Spikelet generally compressed, breaking between florets; glumes 2, similar, generally < lowest lemma, awnless; florets generally 2–6; callus indistinct, often with obvious tuft of long cobwebby hairs; lemma generally keeled to base, of same texture as glumes, awnless, veins generally 5, ± converging near tip; palea well developed, keels generally scabrous; fertile anthers 0.2–4.5 mm; ovary glabrous
Species in genus: ± 500 species: temp and cool regions
Etymology: (Greek: ancient name)
Reference: [Soreng 1991 Syst Bot 16:507–528]
CA is center of diversity in North America. Spikelet features best observed on lowest florets of spikelet.

Native

P. leptocoma Trin. subsp. leptocoma

BOG BLUEGRASS

Perennial, loosely cespitose, 1–7 dm
Leaf: sheath open 1/2–3/4 length; ligule 1.5–4 mm, truncate to obtuse, smooth; blade 1–4 mm wide, soft, generally flat
Inflorescence 4–15 cm, open; branches ascending in flower, ± drooping in fruit, with spikelets in top 1/3
Spikelet: lower glume 1-veined; callus cobwebby; lemma 3–4 mm, keel and marginal veins sparsely hairy
Flower: anthers 0.2–1 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=42
Ecology: Moist subalpine, lower alpine meadows
Elevation: 1800–3200 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, High Cascade Range, n&c High Sierra Nevada, Great Basin Floristic Province
Distribution outside California: to Alaska, Montana, New Mexico
Flowering time: Summer

previous taxon | next taxon
bioregional map for POA%20leptocoma%20subsp.%20leptocoma being generated
 


Retrieve Jepson Interchange Index to Plant Names entry for Poa leptocoma subsp. leptocoma
Retrieve dichotomous key for Poa
Return to treatment index page
Glossary
University & Jepson Herbaria Home Page | Copyright © by the Regents of the University of California