| Author | L. | |
| Distribution | Scattered in the Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain. To date, only 8 specimens have been seen.
Native of northern Eurasia; in N.A. mostly the northern U.S. and Canada. Scattered south to NC and KY. | |
| Abundance | Apparently rare, but probably overlooked. | |
| Habitat | Stream and creek sides and bottoms, grassy bald (Jane Bald on Roan Mountain), roadsides, swampy ground. | |
| Phenology | Flowering and fruiting June-August. | |
| Identification | Wood Bluegrass grows mostly 1-2 feet tall, with an elongate inflorescence whose branches are ascending to spreading. There are only 2-4 florets per spikelet, giving the inflorescence a sparse look. | |
| 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) | | |
| State Rank | SE * | |
| Global Rank | G5 | |
| State Status | | |
| US Status | | |
| USACE-agcp | FAC link |
| USACE-emp | FAC link |
