| Author | L. | |
| Distribution | Throughout the state, no doubt in every county.
Native of Eurasia; in N.A. essentially throughout. | |
| Abundance | Common to abundant throughout, except only frequent on the Outer Banks and in the higher Mountains. | |
| Habitat | Lawns (planted or adventive), gardens, sidewalks, waste lots, fields, etc. Commonly planted as a lawn grass, on golf courses, etc. | |
| Phenology | Flowering and fruiting February-May. | |
| Identification | Annual Bluegrass is one of the most widely distributed plants in the world, due to introductions. Where not mown, it is tufted and lacks a rhizome, with the culms (flowering stems) up to 8 inches (sometimes more), varying from nearly prostrate to almost erect. Inflorescences are short and relatively compact, and pale green to whitish, strongly contrasting with the green leaves. | |
| Taxonomic Comments | The genus Poa contains some 500 species globally, about 70 in N.A. A typical Poa species has a number of basal leaves, few stem leaves, and a terminal, open inflorescence. The inflorescence is composed of well-spaced whorls of 2-6 skinny branches, usually with short side branchlets and these bearing spikelets. Branches may be strongly ascending, horizontal, or reflexed. Spikelets are composed of 2-6 florets and are generally laterally compressed. Each glume and lemma is acute to blunt, but seldom acuminate as in many Festuca species. Unlike Festuca and Bromus, most Poa species have a small wispy tuft of white hairs at the base of each floret. | |
| Other Common Name(s) | TV golf announcers say "po'-anna"! | |
| State Rank | SE | |
| Global Rank | GNR | |
| State Status | | |
| US Status | | |
| USACE-agcp | FACU link |
| USACE-emp | FACU link |
