Bulbous Bluegrass

Poa bulbosa L.

Poaceae (Grass Family)

▲▼ mature plants

▲▼ inflorescences

▲▼ maturing inflorescences showing swelling of seed areas (reddish)

▲ close-up of bulbous seedheads approaching maturity

▲ligule and collar region

Bulbous Bluegrass: 

·         Cool-season annual bunch-grass with dark green leaf blades that end in keeled tip

·         Grows 3-12” tall

·         Taller membranous ligule, compared to other grasses

·         Inflorescence at first a shaggy green compressed panicle

·         As seeds mature, bases of florets swell, turn reddish, looking like little bulbs

·         Can be an invasive weed in short-grass prairies

·         Mostly seen as low-cost turf seed contaminant around here