Poa pratensis
(c) John M. Randall / The Nature Conservancy
Kentuck Bluegrass is a
dense
grass
with smooth, upright stems. At the top of the stems are
clusters
of greenish flowers. This plant grows one to three feet
tall. Kentucky Bluegrass is just one of many species of
bluegrass, and is one of the most common. Kentucky Bluegrass grows
in meadows,
fields,
roadsides, open woods, and streamsides. It can grow in dry
or moist soil. It is very competitive
and will often crowd out other plants. Bluegrasses are
perennial,
so they live more than one year. USGS-NPS Vegetation
Mapping Program (biology.usgs.gov/npsveg)
Dr. M. Halling
Kentucky Bluegrass leaves
are blades, up to eight inches long and 1/4 inch wide.
Leaves grow from the base of the plant, and the tip of the
leaf resembles the bow (front) of a boat. Bluegrass blooms from May
to August. Flowers are tiny, growing on small spikelets in
clusters at the end of the stems. Each spikelet is 1/4 inch
long; a cluster can be six inches long. Tiny reddish
fruits
take the place of flowers and provide seeds
for many animals. Kentucky Bluegrass
spreads by rhizomes,
stems that grow sideways underground. Copyright, Purdue
University and the Purdue Forage Information web
site
Copyright, Ohio State University
(c) John M. Randall / The
Nature Conservancy Many birds eat the seeds
of bluegrass, including: Wild Turkey, ducks and geese,
Northern Bobwhite, sparrows, and doves. Meadow Voles and
other small mammals also eat seeds. Rabbits and deer eat
leaves and stems. Many, many insects use
bluegrass as a food source. Grubs (beetle larvae) eat the
roots, and leafhoppers and caterpillars
eat leaves. Earthworms, snails,
slugs, isopods, and millipedes eat dead leaves, stems, and
roots.
Copyright, Ohio State University