Poa annua

Family:POACEAE
Species:Poa annua L.
Common Name:Annual Bluegrass; Low Speargrass
Habitat:**
Associated Ecological Communities:**
Growth Habit:Herb
Duration:Annual
Category:Vascular
USDA Symbol:POAN
Plant Notes:Annual Bluegrass is an introduced annual in the Grass family (Poaceae). It is native to Eurasia but has become established worldwide. Annual Bluegrass can be found throughout Alabama. It occurs in lawns, on roadsides, along streams, in fallow fields, and in other moist disturbed sites. It is a cool season annual bunch grass. Germination occurs in the late fall and early winter as day time temperatures fall below 70 degrees. Annual Bluegrass has a fibrous root system. It forms small clumps up to 10 inches in height. The plant branches from the base to produce short prostrate to erect stems. The leaves are alternate, bright green in color, glabrous, with finely serrate margins. The tip of the leaf is prow-shaped. Flowers are produced in open, triangular panicles. The spikelets are laterally compressed. The seed is a grain. Annual Bluegrass is a major weed throughout the world. It is particularly a problem in lawns and on golf courses. The plants die in the spring leaving unsightly brown dead patches in lawns. Annual Bluegrass is highly variable and consists of annual bunch forms and perennial rhizomatous forms. It is believed that Annual Bluegrass is of hybrid origin with Weak Bluegrass (Poa infirma Kunth) and Supine Bluegrass (Poa supina Schrad.) as the parents. Annual Bluegrass is similar to Chapman's Bluegrass (Poa chapmaniana Scribner), another annual species. Chapman's Bluegrass is a native species that usually prefers drier sites than Annual Bluegrass. It has lemmas that are cottony webbed at the base.--A. Diamond
Taxonomic Notes:**
Status:Not Native, FAC (NWI)
References:**

** Not applicable or data not available.

Classification

FamilyPOACEAE - Grass family
Genus Poa
Species Poa annua L. - Annual Bluegrass; Low Speargrass

Citation

Citation Poa annua Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 68. 1753.
Basionym: **
Type: Without data (lectotype: LINN 87.17 [right-hand plant]). Lectotypified by Soreng, in Cafferty et al., Taxon 49: 254. 2000.

** Not applicable or data not available.

Synonyms

SynonymFull CitationBasionymType
Aira pumila Aira pumila Pursh, Fl. Amer. Sept. 1: 76. 1814. PENNSYLVANIA
Catabrosa pumila Catabrosa pumila (Pursh) Roemer & Schultes, Syst. Veg. 2: 696. 1817.Aira pumila Pursh 1814. 
Catabrosa thomsonii Catabrosa thomsonii Hooker f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 311. 1896. CHINA: Tibet: Nubra Valley,
Ochlopoa annua Ochlopoa annua (Linnaeus) H. Scholz, Ber. Inst. Landschafts-Pflanzenökologie Univ. Hohenheim 16: 58. 2003.Poa annua Linnaeus 1753. 
Poa aestivalis Poa aestivalis J. Presl, in C. Presl, Reliq. Haenk. 1: 272. 1830. PERU
Poa algida Poa algida Trinius, Linnaea 10: 306. 1836. PERU
Poa annua var. aquatica Poa annua Linnaeus, var. aquatica Ascherson, Fl. Brandenburg 1: 844. 1864.  
Poa annua var. eriolepis Poa annua Linnaeus, var. eriolepis E. Desvaux, Fl. Chil. 6: 405. 1854. CHILE
Poa annua var. remotiflora Poa annua Linnaeus, var. remotiflora Hackel ex Battandier & Trabut, Fl. Algérie 2: 206. 1895. ALGERIA
Poa annua var. reptans Poa annua Linnaeus, var. reptans Haussknecht, Mitth. Thüring. Bot. Vereins 9: 7. 1891.  
Poa annua var. rigidiuscula Poa annua Linnaeus, var. rigidiuscula L. H. Dewey, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 3: 262. 1895. IDAHO: Nez Perce Co.: Lapwai Agency, 5 May 1892, Sandberg et al. 134 (holotype: US; isotype: US).
Poa bipollicaris Poa bipollicaris Hochstetter, Flora 38: 321. 1855. ETHIOPIA
Poa ovalis Poa ovalis Tineo, Pl. Rar. Sicil. 21. 1846. ITALY: Sicily:
Poa remotiflora Poa remotiflora (Hackel ex Battandier & Trabut) Murbeck, Acta Univ. Lund 36(1): 22. 1900, non Ruprecht 1845.Poa annua Linnaeus, var. remotiflora Hackel ex Battandier & Trabut 1895. 
Poa royleana Poa royleana Steudel, Syn. Pl. Glumac. 1: 256. 1854.  

Specimens and Distribution

This species has been reported in the following counties by the herbaria listed. An overview of the individual specimens are provided in the table that follows. Click on the accession number to view details; click on column headers to sort; choose a county or herbaria to filter the specimen data.

Counties included on distribution map: Autauga, Baldwin, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Butler, Calhoun, Cherokee, Chilton, Choctaw, Clay, Cleburne, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Cullman, Dale, Dallas, Elmore, Escambia, Etowah, Franklin, Geneva, Greene, Hale, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Jefferson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lee, Limestone, Madison, Marengo, Marion, Marshall, Mobile, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Pickens, Pike, Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Winston

Counties represented by specimen data listed below:

Herbaria represented by specimen data listed below: ALNHS, AUA, JSU, SAMF, TROY, UNA, USAM, UWAL

Range of years during which specimens were collected: 1898 - 1980

Barcode / Accession No. County Coll. Date Collector &
Collection No.
Herbarium &
Herbarium Name Used
Image
UNA00005603 Tuscaloosa 15 Mar 1977 Sisk, A.D.
s.n.
UNA
Poa annua L.
UWAL0037205 Cullman 08 Apr 2016 Spaulding, Daniel D.
14485
UWAL
Poa annua L.
TROY000042250 Covington 11 Feb 2012 Diamond, Alvin R.
22801
TROY
Poa annua Linnaeus
UWAL0009092 Morgan 08 Feb 2009 England, J. Kevin
1590
UWAL
Poa annua L.
UNA00005613 Mobile 21 Mar 1964 Deramus, Rebecca
D19
UNA
Poa annua L.
UWAL0047672 Barbour 06 Mar 2020 England, J. Kevin
10687
UWAL
Poa annua Linnaeus
UNA00065360 Winston 04 Mar 2005 England, J. Kevin
271
UNA
Poa annua L.
AUA000018867 Conecuh 13 Feb 1988 Diamond, Alvin R.
4113
AUA
Poa Annua L.
JSU100590 Lawrence 03 Apr 1976 Whetstone, R. David
8129
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
TROY000012586 Coffee 10 Jan 2000 Martin, Brian H.
409
TROY
Poa annua Linnaeus
AUA000018866 Choctaw 31 Mar 1995 Crouch, Virginia E.
1335
AUA
Poa Annua L.
JSU100605 St. Clair 26 Mar 1984 Beavers, Donna D.
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
JSU156369 Etowah 22 Mar 1984 Nixon, Christopher F.
595
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
JSU100593 Madison 06 Apr 1976 Atkinson, Tim A.
1243
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
JSU100570 Blount 31 Mar 1976 Whetstone, R. David
7830
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
AUA000018872 Houston 9 Feb 1989 Diamond, Alvin R.
5659
AUA
Poa Annua L.
JSU100598 Mobile 09 Apr 1976 Wayner, Gary A.
623
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
USAM000012510 Mobile 13 Mar 1968 LeLong, Michel G.
4186
USAM
Poa annua Linnaeus
UWAL0009088 Butler 23 Feb 2008 Diamond, Alvin R.
18714
UWAL
Poa annua L.
JSU100603 Morgan 27 Mar 1976 Whetstone, R. David
7723
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
UWAL0017703 Houston 02 Apr 2015 Diamond, Alvin R.
26098
UWAL
Poa annua Linnaeus
JSU100579 Etowah 22 Mar 1984 Barber, J. Patrick
90
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
TROY000012593 Pike 06 Apr 1991 Mansfield, Shawn Lynn
1
TROY
Poa annua Linnaeus
AUA000037903 Escambia 14 Mar 2012 Hansen, Curtis J.
5387
AUA
Poa Annua L.
JSU100585 Jackson 29 Apr 1998 Brodeur, Kristin R.
566
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
TROY000012584 Barbour 03 Feb 2006 Diamond, Alvin R.
16137
TROY
Poa annua Linnaeus
UWAL0034417 Cherokee 01 Apr 1995 Kral, Robert
84376
UWAL
Poa annua L.
ALNHS00001573 Dallas 12 Mar 2010 Barger, T. Wayne
OC-489
ALNHS
Poa annua L.
UNA00005628 Tuscaloosa 31 Mar 1955 Batson, Jackie
s.n.
UNA
Poa annua L.
JSU100586 Jackson 13 Mar 1998 Brodeur, Kristin R.
377
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
TROY000012588 Crenshaw 07 Jun 2006 Diamond, Alvin R.
16488
TROY
Poa annua Linnaeus
UWAL0016097 Henry 11 Mar 2014 Diamond, Alvin R.
24839
UWAL
Poa annua Linnaeus
JSU100600 Morgan 18 Mar 1994 Spaulding, Daniel D.
5115
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
TROY000027355 Tallapoosa 18 Apr 2006 Barger, T. Wayne
113
TROY
Poa annua Linnaeus
JSU100601 Morgan 29 Mar 1997 Spaulding, Daniel D.
9573
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
TROY000012607 Barbour 16 Mar 2002 Spaulding, Daniel D.
11095
TROY
Poa annua Linnaeus
AUA000018870 Escambia 23 Apr 1988 Diamond, Alvin R.
4582
AUA
Poa Annua L.
UWAL0046777 Autauga 24 Jan 2017 Parker, Matthew R.
322
UWAL
Poa annua Linnaeus
JSU100569 Blount 28 Mar 1976 Whetstone, R. David
7678
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
UWAL0016181 Montgomery 04 May 2014 Diamond, Alvin R.
25040
UWAL
Poa annua Linnaeus
UWAL0053388 Madison 06 Mar 2020 Hansen, C.J.
7829
UWAL
Poa annua L.
UWAL0001949 St. Clair 30 Apr 2008 Spaulding, Daniel D.
12850
UWAL
Poa annua L.
UNA00027205 Tuscaloosa 20 Apr 1955 Chermock, Ottilie D.
s.n.
UNA
Poa annua L.
TROY000042432 St. Clair 30 Apr 2008 Spaulding, Daniel D.
12850
TROY
Poa annua Linnaeus
JSU100608 Tuscaloosa 02 Apr 1976 Whetstone, R. David
8089
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
TROY000026873 Marengo 06 Feb 2009 England, J. Kevin
1583
TROY
Poa annua Linnaeus
AUA000018865 Choctaw 3 Mar 1995 Crouch, Virginia E.
1302
AUA
Poa Annua L.
JSU100606 St. Clair 26 Mar 1984 Beavers, Donna D.
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
JSU100581 Etowah 18 Mar 1982 Minor, Donna K.
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
TROY000012589 Dale 20 Feb 2000 Prazinko, Brian F.
s.n.
TROY
Poa annua Linnaeus
UWAL0039721 Elmore 20 Mar 2018 Diamond, Alvin R.
28103
UWAL
Poa annua Linnaeus
JSU100597 Marshall 29 Mar 1976 Whetstone, R. David
7799
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
SAMF0006091 Tuscaloosa 19 Apr 2016 Davenport, Lawrence J.
6132
SAMF
Poa annua Linnaeus
JSU100594 Madison 13 Mar 1996 Threlkeld, Steven J.
113
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
JSU100577 Etowah 19 Mar 1995 Hodge, Lesley M.
4082
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
JSU100589 Lauderdale 30 Mar 1967 Cleghorn, Kerry
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
TROY000039078 Henry 11 Mar 2014 Diamond, Alvin R.
24839
TROY
Poa annua Linnaeus
UWAL0039009 Walker 20 Mar 2019 England, J. Kevin
9951
UWAL
Poa annua Linnaeus
UNA00005638 Mobile 06 Mar 1965 Deramus, Rebecca
D282
UNA
Poa annua L.
UWAL0048044 Bullock 12 Mar 2018 Soehren, Eric C.
536
UWAL
Poa annua L.
UNA00005618 Tuscaloosa 08 Mar 1955 Farmer, Joe A.
s.n.
UNA
Poa annua L.
AUA000018871 Henry 13 Feb 1992 Diamond, Alvin R.
7889
AUA
Poa Annua L.
JSU100607 Shelby 04 Apr 1993 Whetstone, R. David
16243
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
AUA000018875 Lee 1 May 1952 Cunningham, Hugh B.
AUA
Poa Annua L.
JSU100591 Lee 17 Mar 1964 Bozarth, Gene A.
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
JSU100580 Etowah 22 Mar 1984 Nixon, Christopher F.
595
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
SAMF0001345 Monroe 02 May 2010 Davenport, Lawrence J.
4270
SAMF
Poa annua Linnaeus
JSU100572 Calhoun 01 Mar 1992 Ballard, J. Mark
41
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
JSU100565 Blount 31 Mar 1976 Whetstone, R. David
7880
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
UWAL0031507 Morgan 12 Mar 2016 England, J. Kevin
5912
UWAL
Poa annua Linnaeus
JSU100571 Calhoun 23 Mar 1993 Weninegar. Loretta L.
41
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
TROY000012591 Geneva 06 Mar 2008 Diamond, Alvin R.
18736
TROY
Poa annua Linnaeus
AUA000018864 Barbour 3 Feb 2006 Diamond, Alvin R.
16137
AUA
Poa Annua L.
JSU100566 Blount 15 May 1993 Spaulding, Daniel D.
4027
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
TROY000027361 Pickens 06 Apr 2002 Spaulding, Daniel D.
11159
TROY
Poa annua Linnaeus
JSU100588 Jefferson 09 May 1984 Barber, J. Patrick
209
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
TROY000035573 Bullock 09 Feb 2012 Dykes, Bailee
294
TROY
Poa annua Linnaues
SAMF0001343 Randolph 18 Mar 2010 Davenport, Lawrence J.
4160
SAMF
Poa annua Linnaeus
UNA00005623 Tuscaloosa 1 Mar 1955 Mallory, Jack C.
s.n.
UNA
Poa annua L.
UNA00005603 Tuscaloosa 15 Mar 1977 Sisk, A.D.
s.n.
UNA
Poa annua L.
UWAL0011463 Bullock 09 Feb 2012 Dykes, Bailee
294
UWAL
Poa annua Linnaeus
UNA00005846 Mobile 15 Apr 1898 Mohr, Charles
s.n.
UNA
Poa annua L.
UWAL0009089 Houston 07 May 2005 Kral, Robert
96222
UWAL
Poa annua L.
JSU100563 Baldwin 02 Mar 1998 Brodeur, Kristin R.
444
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
UNA00005608 Hale 22 Mar 1966 Maginness, Sherrie E.
s.n.
UNA
Poa annua L.
SAMF0001344 Marshall 14 Apr 2010 Davenport, Lawrence J.
4194
SAMF
Poa annua Linnaeus
JSU100592 Limestone 01 Mar 1997 Hofmann, Tim L.
253
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
JSU100576 Elmore 31 Mar 1983 Whetstone, R. David
12990
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
UWAL0043507 Baldwin 24 Feb 2000 Larsen, Harry S.
253
UWAL
Poa annua L.
UNA00005658 Tuscaloosa 18 Mar 1959 Williamson, Nelda Kathleen
s.n.
UNA
Poa annua L.
TROY000044724 Autauga 24 Jan 2017 Parker, Matthew R.
322
TROY
Poa annua Linnaeus
AUA000018877 Pike 31 Mar 1988 Diamond, Alvin R.
4329
AUA
Poa Annua L.
JSU100604 Morgan 27 Mar 1976 Whetstone, R. David
7706
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
TROY000027360 Marion 06 Apr 2002 Spaulding, Daniel D.
11196
TROY
Poa annua Linnaeus
AUA000018874 Lee 16 Apr 1970 Rush, Larry
.049
AUA
Poa Annua L.
JSU100582 Etowah 22 Mar 1984 Barber, J. Patrick
91
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
TROY000012594 Pike 28 Feb 1997 Holmes, Jeanese
254
TROY
Poa annua Linnaeus
USAM000012511 Baldwin 09 May 1980 Lott, Bob
54
USAM
Poa annua Linnaeus
UNA00050405 Randolph 18 Apr 1985 Nixon, C.F.
1061
UNA
Poa annua L.
TROY000042364 Houston 02 Apr 2015 Diamond, Alvin R.
26098
TROY
Poa annua Linnaeus
UWAL0032316 Jackson 08 Apr 2016 England, J. Kevin
6107
UWAL
Poa annua Linnaeus
UNA00005653 Randolph 29 Apr 1980 Wiersema, John H.
1563
UNA
Poa annua L.
UWAL0036018 Blount 21 May 2013 Anderson, Kelly
185
UWAL
Poa annua L.
JSU100584 Jackson 13 Mar 1998 Brodeur, Kristin R.
377
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
UNA00005623 Tuscaloosa 01 Mar 1955 Mallory, Jack C.
s.n.
UNA
Poa annua L.
AUA000044002 Madison 6 Mar 2020 Hansen, Curtis J.
7829
AUA
Poa Annua L.
JSU100583 Franklin 18 Mar 1994 Spaulding, Daniel D.
5094
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
UNA00005648 Greene 17 Mar 1967 Thomas, Joab L.
T912
UNA
Poa annua L.
JSU100574 Clay 21 Apr 1994 Ballard, J. Mark
3556
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
TROY000039110 Montgomery 04 May 2014 Diamond, Alvin R.
25040
TROY
Poa annua Linnaeus
AUA000018868 Crenshaw 29 Jan 1995 Diamond, Alvin R.
9480
AUA
Poa Annua L.
JSU100596 Marshall 13 Mar 1992 Spaulding, Daniel D.
1167
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
TROY000046253 Elmore 20 Mar 2018 Diamond, Alvin R.
28103
TROY
Poa annua Linnaeus
UWAL0037163 Cleburne 22 Mar 2016 Spaulding, Daniel D.
14469
UWAL
Poa annua L.
SAMF0008106 Houston 07 May 2005 Kral, R.
96222
SAMF
Poa annua Linnaeus
UNA00005633 Tuscaloosa 6 Feb 1957 Deason, Temd R.
s.n.
UNA
Poa annua L.
UNA00027244 Morgan 06 May 1950 Segars, Charles B.
302
UNA
Poa annua L.
UWAL0010393 Greene 24 Feb 2012 Keener, Brian R.
6850
UWAL
Poa annua L.
UNA00005633 Tuscaloosa 06 Feb 1957 Deason, Temd R.
s.n.
UNA
Poa annua L.
AUA000018873 Jefferson 10 May 1965 Wright, Larry
AUA
Poa Annua L.
JSU100573 Chilton 01 Apr 1999 Brodeur, Kristin R.
1602
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
UNA00005668 Tuscaloosa 17 May 1962 Blackwell, Will
102
UNA
Poa annua L.
SAMF0006011 Etowah 14 Mar 2016 Davenport, Lawrence J.
6039
SAMF
Poa annua Linnaeus
JSU100575 Clay 02 Apr 1993 Ballard, J. Mark
1280
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
JSU100599 Montgomery 31 Mar 1983 Whetstone, R. David
12929
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
UWAL0038976 Etowah 22 Mar 2019 England, J. Kevin
10012
UWAL
Poa annua Linnaeus
UNA00005628 Tuscaloosa 31 Mar 1955 Batson, Jackie
s.n.
UNA
Poa annua L.
TROY000012592 Houston 14 Feb 2008 Diamond, Alvin R.
18702
TROY
Poa annua Linnaeus
AUA000018869 Dale 21 Feb 1992 Diamond, Alvin R.
7907
AUA
Poa Annua L.
UWAL0035679 Tuscaloosa 19 Apr 2016 Davenport, L.J.
6132
UWAL
Poa annua L.
JSU100568 Blount 28 Mar 1976 Whetstone, R. David
7678
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
UWAL0016117 Conecuh 04 Jan 2014 Diamond, Alvin R.
24715
UWAL
Poa annua Linnaeus
JSU100587 Jefferson 30 Mar 1985 Barber, J. Patrick
1371
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
TROY000012590 Dale 15 Feb 1998 Rundell, Hannelore
489
TROY
Poa annua Linnaeus
UWAL0009091 Marengo 06 Feb 2009 England, J. Kevin
1583
UWAL
Poa annua L.
JSU100578 Etowah 11 Mar 1995 Soehren, Eric C.
11
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
TROY000012585 Butler 27 Mar 2008 Diamond, Alvin R.
18816
TROY
Poa annua Linnaeus
JSU100567 Blount 26 Mar 1980 Allred, S.
40
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
TROY000032459 Butler 23 Feb 2008 Diamond, Alvin R.
18714
TROY
Poa annua Linnaeus
UNA00005668 Tuscaloosa 17 May 1962 Blackwell, Will
102
UNA
Poa annua L.
JSU100564 Bibb 15 Mar 1998 Brodeur, Kristin R.
392
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
TROY000029593 Houston 07 May 2005 Kral, Robert
96222
TROY
Poa annua Linnaeus
UWAL0009090 Houston 14 Feb 2008 Diamond, Alvin R.
18702
UWAL
Poa annua L.
JSU100595 Marshall 22 Apr 1992 Spaulding, Daniel D.
1398
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
TROY000012587 Conecuh 24 Feb 2001 Diamond, Alvin R.
12282
TROY
Poa annua Linnaeus
SAMF0006001 Jefferson 11 Mar 2016 Davenport, Lawrence J.
6026
SAMF
Poa annua Linnaeus
JSU100602 Morgan 29 Mar 1997 Spaulding, Daniel D.
9584
JSU
Poa annua Linnaeus
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