Smooth Meadow-grass
From Freepedia
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| Poa pratensis L. |
Smooth Meadow-grass (Poa pratensis) is a species of grass native to Europe, Asia and northern Africa.
It is a herbaceous perennial plant, growing to 30-70 cm tall, occasionally 90 cm. The leaves are narrow-linear, up to 20 cm long and 3-5 mm broad, smooth or slightly roughened, with a rounded to truncate ligule 1-2 mm long. The flower panicle is 10-20 cm long, conic, with the basal whorls of 3-5 branchlets; the spikelets are oval, green, 3-6 mm long, with 2-5 flowers.
Poa pratensis is the type species of the grass family Poaceae.
Cultivation and uses
Smooth Meadow-grass is a very important meadow plant, used extensively by grazing livestock like cattle and sheep. It is also cultivated in North America, where it has been re-named 'Kentucky Bluegrass'. This re-naming is not accepted within the species' native area.
