Bulbous Bluegrass
Poa bulbosa L.
Poa bulbosa L., a grass species in the family Poaceae, is commonly known as Bulbous Bluegrass. Native to Eurasia and North Africa, it has been introduced globally, becoming widespread in the United States and southern Canada. It was first introduced to the eastern U.S. in 1906 and the western U.S. in 1915 as a contaminant in alfalfa seed. Later, it was intentionally planted for weed control and erosion prevention. It thrives in disturbed habitats and is considered a noxious weed in some regions due to its aggressive growth and ability to outcompete other plants.
Description
Poa bulbosa is a persistent and hardy grass species that has spread widely outside its native range. It is now found in numerous countries, including Portugal, Japan, Canada, the United States, and others. The species was described in 1753 by Linnaeus. Discussions on its nomenclatural history note that the type material at LINN, from Hasselquist, is considered a single gathering under Art. 9.15, though formal typification remains unresolved. Its aggressive growth and adaptability make it a dominant species in disturbed areas, particularly overgrazed fields.
Other common names
Bulbous BluegrassBulbous Meadow GrassBulbous Meadow-GrassBulbous MeadowgrassBulbous PoaBulbous Speargrass
Distribution
Madeira · Portugal Continental · Madeira Island · RU · CL · IE · BY · Flanders · Finland · Norway · SE · Vermont-US · AU · NO · DK · JP · CA · conterminous 48 United States · Afghanistan · Albania · Alberta · Algeria · Altay · Argentina South · Arizona · Arkansas · Austria · Baleares · Baltic States · Belgium
Synonyms
Paneion bulbosum var. viviparumPoa alpinaPoa attenuata var. desertorumPoa briziformisPoa bulbilliferaPoa bulbosa subsp. crispaPoa bulbosa subsp. leucoglossaPoa bulbosa subsp. nevskiiPoa bulbosa subsp. perligulataPoa bulbosa subsp. viviparaPoa bulbosa var. psammophilaPoa bulbosa var. verticillataPoa bulbosa var. viviparaPoa carniolicaPoa cephalonicaPoa compressaPoa concinna var. carniolicaPoa crassipesPoa crispaPoa delicatulaPoa desertorumPoa eigiiPoa montanaPoa nevskiiPoa pasqualiiPoa perligularisPoa praecoxPoa proliferaPoa protuberataPoa psammophila