606 Species of Genus Poa

The World of Poa: A Grass Lover’s Perspective

My name is Ferb Vu, and I’m fascinated by the genus Poa. It might seem odd to be passionate about something as commonplace as grass, but Poa isn’t just any grass. It’s a diverse and vital group of plants that plays a crucial role in our ecosystems and even our leisure activities.

Poa—derived from the Greek word for “fodder”—encompasses a vast array of species, commonly known as meadow-grass, bluegrass, tussock, or speargrass, depending on where you are in the world. These grasses are predominantly found in temperate regions, blanketing meadows, lawns, and even harsh alpine environments.  

Why Poa Matters

What captivates me most about Poa is its remarkable adaptability and ecological significance. These grasses are incredibly hardy, capable of thriving in various conditions, from well-manicured lawns to windswept mountain slopes. This resilience makes them a cornerstone species in many habitats, providing food and shelter for a wide range of animals, from tiny insects to grazing mammals.  

Moreover, Poa plays a crucial role in soil stabilization, preventing erosion and promoting healthy ecosystems. Its dense root systems form a robust network that holds the soil together, mitigating the impact of wind and rain. This characteristic makes Poa an essential component in land reclamation and erosion control efforts.

Diving into Diversity: Poa Species

The genus Poa boasts an impressive diversity, with over 600 recognized species. Each species possesses unique characteristics, adapting to specific environments and ecological niches. Here are a few notable examples:  

  1. Poa abbreviata R.Br.
  2. Poa acicularifolia Buchanan
  3. Poa acinaciphylla É.Desv.
  4. Poa acroleuca Steud.
  5. Poa adusta J.Presl
  6. Poa aequalis (Swallen & Tovar) Refulio
  7. Poa aequatoriensis Hack.
  8. Poa aequigluma Tovar
  9. Poa affinis R.Br.
  10. Poa afghanica Bor
  11. Poa aitchisonii Boiss.
  12. Poa ajanensis Prob.
  13. Poa akmanii Soreng, P.Hein & H.Scholz
  14. Poa alberti Regel
  15. Poa albescens Hitchc.
  16. Poa × alexandrae Prob.
  17. Poa almasovii Golub
  18. Poa alopecurus (Gaudich. ex Mirb.) Kunth
  19. Poa alpigena Lindm.
  20. Poa alpina L.
  21. Poa alsodes A.Gray
  22. Poa alta Hitchc.
  23. Poa amplexicaulis C.M.Weiller & Stajsic
  24. Poa amplivaginata (Tovar) Refulio
  25. Poa amurica Prob.
  26. Poa anae Tovar
  27. Poa anceps G.Forst.
  28. Poa androgyna Hack.
  29. Poa angustifolia L.
  30. Poa ankaratrensis A.Camus & H.Perrier
  31. Poa annua L.
  32. Poa antipoda Petrie
  33. Poa apiculata Refulio
  34. Poa arachnifera Torr.
  35. Poa araratica Trautv.
  36. Poa archarensis Prob.
  37. Poa arctica R.Br.
  38. Poa arechavaletae Parodi
  39. Poa arida Vasey
  40. Poa arnowiae Soreng
  41. Poa arzhanensis Nosov
  42. Poa asirensis Cope
  43. Poa asperifolia Bor
  44. Poa astonii Petrie
  45. Poa atropidiformis Hack.
  46. Poa atropurpurea Scribn.
  47. Poa attalica (H.Scholz) Soreng, Cabi & L.J.Gillespie
  48. Poa attenuata Trin.
  49. Poa aucklandica Petrie
  50. Poa auriculata Soreng & P.M.Peterson
  51. Poa aurigae Veldkamp
  52. Poa × austrohercynica Wein
  53. Poa austrokurilensis Prob. & Barkalov
  54. Poa austrouralensis Tzvelev
  55. Poa autumnalis Muhl. ex Elliott
  56. Poa ayacuchensis Tovar
  57. Poa babiogorensis Bernátová & Májovský & Obuch
  58. Poa bactriana Roshev.
  59. Poa badensis Haenke ex Willd.
  60. Poa bajaensis Soreng
  61. Poa balbisii Parl.
  62. Poa banffiana (Soreng) Soreng & L.J.Gillespie
  63. Poa bergii Hieron.
  64. Poa beringiana Prob.
  65. Poa bigelovii Vasey ex Scribn.
  66. Poa binata Nees
  67. Poa binodis Keng f. ex L.Liu
  68. Poa bolanderi Vasey
  69. Poa boliviana Refulio
  70. Poa bomiensis C.Ling
  71. Poa bonariensis (Lam.) Kunth
  72. Poa borbonica Poir.
  73. Poa boreorossica Tzvelev
  74. Poa borneensis Jansen
  75. Poa bradei Pilg.
  76. Poa breviglumis Hook.f.
  77. Poa brevis Hitchc.
  78. Poa bricenoi Soreng & Sylvester
  79. Poa bromoides Vahl
  80. Poa buchananii Zotov
  81. Poa bucharica Roshev.
  82. Poa bulbosa L.
  83. Poa burmanica Bor
  84. Poa bussmannii H.Scholz
  85. Poa cabreriana Anton & Ariza
  86. Poa calchaquiensis Hack.
  87. Poa calliopsis Litv. ex Ovcz.
  88. Poa callosa Stapf
  89. Poa calycina (J.Presl) Kunth
  90. Poa carazensis Pilg.
  91. Poa carinatipilosa Charit.
  92. Poa carpatica (V.Jirásek) Chopik
  93. Poa caucasica Trin.
  94. Poa celebica Veldkamp
  95. Poa celsa Edgar
  96. Poa cenisia All.
  97. Poa chaixii Vill.
  98. Poa chamaeclinos Pilg.
  99. Poa chambersii Soreng
  100. Poa chapmaniana Scribn.
  101. Poa chathamica Petrie
  102. Poa cheelii Vickery
  103. Poa chirripoensis R.W.Pohl
  104. Poa chokensis S.M.Phillips
  105. Poa cita Edgar
  106. Poa clavigera Veldkamp
  107. Poa clelandii Vickery
  108. Poa clivicola Vickery
  109. Poa × coarctata Haller f. ex Gaudin
  110. Poa cockayneana Petrie
  111. Poa colensoi Hook.f.
  112. Poa colombiana Soreng & Sylvester
  113. Poa × complanata Schur
  114. Poa compressa L.
  115. Poa confinis Vasey
  116. Poa congesta Refulio
  117. Poa cookii (Hook.f.) Hook.f.
  118. Poa cooperi Noltie
  119. Poa cordemoyi Renvoize
  120. Poa costiniana Vickery
  121. Poa crassicaudex Vickery
  122. Poa crassicaulis Pilg.
  123. Poa crassinervis Honda
  124. Poa cucullata Hack.
  125. Poa cumingii Trin.
  126. Poa curtifolia Scribn.
  127. Poa cusickii Vasey
  128. Poa cuspidata Nutt.
  129. Poa cyrenaica E.A.Durand & Barratte
  130. Poa czazhmensis Prob.
  131. Poa damavandica Assadi & Kavousi
  132. Poa darwiniana Parodi
  133. Poa davisii Bor
  134. Poa deminuta Refulio
  135. Poa densa Troitsky
  136. Poa denticulata Hack.
  137. Poa dentigluma Tovar
  138. Poa denudata Steud.
  139. Poa diaboli Soreng & Keil
  140. Poa diaphora Trin.
  141. Poa × digena Melderis
  142. Poa dimorphantha Murb.
  143. Poa dipsacea Petrie
  144. Poa disjecta Ovcz.
  145. Poa dissanthelioides Tovar
  146. Poa diversifolia (Boiss. & Balansa) Hack. ex Boiss.
  147. Poa dolichophylla Hack.
  148. Poa dolosa Boiss. & Heldr.
  149. Poa douglasii Nees
  150. Poa dozyi Veldkamp
  151. Poa drummondiana Nees
  152. Poa dudkinii Prob.
  153. Poa durifolia Giussani, Nicora & Roig
  154. Poa dzongicola Noltie
  155. Poa egorovae Tzvelev
  156. Poa eleanorae Bor
  157. Poa ensiformis Vickery
  158. Poa epileuca (Stapf) Stapf
  159. Poa erectifolia Hitchc.
  160. Poa exigua Hook.f.
  161. Poa faberi Rendle
  162. Poa falconeri Hook.f.
  163. Poa fauriei Hack.
  164. Poa fawcettiae Vickery
  165. Poa fax J.H.Willis & Court
  166. Poa fendleriana (Steud.) Vasey
  167. Poa ferreyrae Tovar
  168. Poa fibrifera Pilg.
  169. Poa × figertii Gerhardt
  170. Poa filiculmis Roshev.
  171. Poa finitima T.Koyama
  172. Poa fischeri Prob.
  173. Poa flabellata (Lam.) Raspail
  174. Poa flaccidula Boiss. & Reut.
  175. Poa flexuosa Sm.
  176. Poa foliosa (Hook.f.) Hook.f.
  177. Poa fordeana F.Muell.
  178. Poa × fossae-rusticorum Wein
  179. Poa fragilis Ovcz.
  180. Poa gamblei Bor
  181. Poa gammieana Hook.f.
  182. Poa × gandogeri Fedde
  183. Poa garhwalensis D.C.Nautiyal & R.D.Gaur
  184. Poa × gaspensis Fernald
  185. Poa gayana É.Desv.
  186. Poa gigantea (Tovar) Refulio
  187. Poa gilgiana Pilg.
  188. Poa glaberrima Tovar
  189. Poa glauca Vahl
  190. Poa gnutikovii Prob.
  191. Poa golestanensis H.Scholz & Akhani
  192. Poa grandis Hand.-Mazz.
  193. Poa granitica Braun-Blanq.
  194. Poa greuteri Gabrieljan
  195. Poa grisebachii R.E.Fr.
  196. Poa guadianensis (F.M.Vázquez) F.M.Vázquez
  197. Poa gunnii Vickery
  198. Poa gymnantha Pilg.
  199. Poa hachadoensis Nicora
  200. Poa hackelii Post
  201. Poa hakusanensis Hack.
  202. Poa halmaturina J.M.Black
  203. Poa hartzii Gand.
  204. Poa harveyi Chrtek
  205. Poa hedbergii S.M.Phillips
  206. Poa helenae Veldkamp
  207. Poa helmsii Vickery
  208. Poa hentyi Veldkamp
  209. Poa × herjedalica Harry Sm.
  210. Poa hesperia Edgar
  211. Poa hideaki-ohbae Rajbh.
  212. Poa hiemata Vickery
  213. Poa hieronymi Hack.
  214. Poa himalayana Nees ex Steud.
  215. Poa hirtiglumis Hook.f.
  216. Poa hisauchii Honda
  217. Poa hissarica Roshev. ex Ovcz.
  218. Poa hitchcockiana Soreng & P.M.Peterson
  219. Poa holciformis J.Presl
  220. Poa homomalla Nees
  221. Poa hookeri Vickery
  222. Poa horridula Pilg.
  223. Poa hothamensis Vickery
  224. Poa howellii Vasey & Scribn.
  225. Poa huancavelicae Tovar
  226. Poa hubbardiana Parodi
  227. Poa huecu Parodi
  228. Poa humilis Ehrh. ex Hoffm.
  229. Poa humillima Pilg.
  230. Poa hybrida Gaudin
  231. Poa hylobates Bor
  232. Poa hypsinephes Veldkamp
  233. Poa ibarii Phil.
  234. Poa iberica Fisch., C.A.Mey. & Avé-Lall.
  235. Poa iconia Azn.
  236. Poa igoshinae Tzvelev
  237. Poa imbecilla Biehler
  238. Poa imperialis Bor
  239. Poa inconspicua Veldkamp
  240. Poa induta Vickery
  241. Poa infirma Kunth
  242. Poa interior Rydb.
  243. Poa × intricata Wein
  244. Poa intrusa Edgar
  245. Poa iridifolia Hauman
  246. Poa irkutica Roshev.
  247. Poa janaensis Prob.
  248. Poa jansenii Veldkamp
  249. Poa jaunsarensis Bor
  250. Poa × jemtlandica (Almq.) K.Richt.
  251. Poa jeremiadis Veldkamp
  252. Poa jubata A.Kern.
  253. Poa jugicola D.I.Morris
  254. Poa × jurassica Chrtek & V.Jirásek
  255. Poa kabalanica Prob.
  256. Poa kamczatensis Prob.
  257. Poa keckii Soreng
  258. Poa kelloggii Vasey
  259. Poa kengii Olonova & Sylvester
  260. Poa kenteica N.R.Ivanov
  261. Poa kerguelensis (Hook.f.) Steud.
  262. Poa keysseri Pilg.
  263. Poa khasiana Stapf
  264. Poa khokhrjakovii Prob.
  265. Poa kilimanjarica (Hedberg) Markgr.-Dann.
  266. Poa kirkii Buchanan
  267. Poa klokovii Tzvelev
  268. Poa koelzii Bor
  269. Poa koksuensis Golosk.
  270. Poa kolymensis Tzvelev
  271. Poa korshinskyi Tzvelev
  272. Poa krasnoborovii Stepanov
  273. Poa kronokensis Prob.
  274. Poa krylovii Reverd.
  275. Poa kuborensis Veldkamp
  276. Poa kulikovii Tzvelev
  277. Poa kurdistanica Chrtek & Hadac
  278. Poa kurtzii R.E.Fr.
  279. Poa kurynica Prob.
  280. Poa labillardierei Steud.
  281. Poa lachenensis Noltie
  282. Poa laegaardiana Soreng & P.M.Peterson
  283. Poa laetevirens R.E.Fr.
  284. Poa lamii Jansen
  285. Poa lanata Scribn. & Merr.
  286. Poa langiana Rchb.
  287. Poa langtangensis Melderis
  288. Poa languidior Hitchc.
  289. Poa lanigera Nees
  290. Poa lanuginosa Poir.
  291. Poa lavrenkoi Kuczerov
  292. Poa laxa Haenke
  293. Poa laxiflora Buckley
  294. Poa lebedevae Usupbaev
  295. Poa legionensis (Laínz) Fern.Casas & M.Laínz
  296. Poa lehoueroui Dobignard & Portal
  297. Poa leibergii Scribn.
  298. Poa lepidula (Nees & Meyen) Soreng & L.J.Gillespie
  299. Poa leptalea Veldkamp
  300. Poa leptoclada Hochst. ex A.Rich.
  301. Poa leptocoma Trin.
  302. Poa lettermanii Vasey
  303. Poa levitskyi Nosov
  304. Poa lhasaensis Bor
  305. Poa ligularis Nees ex Steud.
  306. Poa ligulata Boiss.
  307. Poa lilloi Hack.
  308. Poa × limosa Scribn. & T.A.Williams
  309. Poa lindebergii Tzvelev
  310. Poa lindsayi Hook.f.
  311. Poa linearifolia Refulio
  312. Poa lipskyi Roshev.
  313. Poa litorosa Cheeseman
  314. Poa liuliangii Olonova & Sylvester
  315. Poa longifolia Trin.
  316. Poa longii Noltie
  317. Poa longiramea Hitchc.
  318. Poa × longriensis Prob. & Barkalov
  319. Poa lowanensis N.G.Walsh
  320. Poa lunata Chase
  321. Poa macrantha Vasey
  322. Poa macroanthera D.F.Cui
  323. Poa macrocalyx Trautv. & C.A.Mey.
  324. Poa macusaniensis (E.H.L.Krause) Refulio
  325. Poa madecassa A.Camus
  326. Poa × magadanensis Prob.
  327. Poa magadanica Kuvaev
  328. Poa magellensis F.Conti & Bartolucci
  329. Poa maia Edgar
  330. Poa mairei Hack.
  331. Poa maniototo Petrie
  332. Poa mannii Munro ex Hillebr.
  333. Poa mansfieldii Otting & B.L.Wilson
  334. Poa marcida Hitchc.
  335. Poa margilicola Bernátová & Májovský
  336. Poa markgrafii H.Hartmann
  337. Poa maroccana Nannf.
  338. Poa marshallii Tovar
  339. Poa marticorenae Soreng, Giussani & Finot
  340. Poa masenderana Freyn & Sint.
  341. Poa matris-occidentalis P.M.Peterson & Soreng
  342. Poa matsumurae Hack.
  343. Poa matthewsii Petrie
  344. Poa megalantha (Parodi) Herter
  345. Poa meionectes Vickery
  346. Poa menachensis Schweinf.
  347. Poa mendocina Nicora & F.A.Roig
  348. Poa millii Soreng, Cabi & L.J.Gillespie
  349. Poa minimiflora Stapf
  350. Poa minor Gaudin
  351. Poa mireniana N.G.Walsh & K.L.McDougall
  352. Poa moabitica Bor
  353. Poa molinerii Balb.
  354. Poa mollis Vickery
  355. Poa morrisii Vickery
  356. Poa mucuchachensis Luces
  357. Poa muktinathensis Rajbh.
  358. Poa mulalensis Kunth
  359. Poa mulleri Swallen
  360. Poa multinodis Chase
  361. Poa × multnomae Piper
  362. Poa muricata Veldkamp
  363. Poa mustangensis Rajbh.
  364. Poa myriantha Hack.
  365. Poa nankoensis Ohwi
  366. Poa × nannfeldtii (H.Scholz ex Val.N.Tikhom.) Nosov
  367. Poa napensis Beetle
  368. Poa navashinii Nosov
  369. Poa × nematophylla Rydb.
  370. Poa nemoraliformis Roshev.
  371. Poa nemoralis L.
  372. Poa nepalensis (Wall. ex Griseb.) Duthie
  373. Poa nephelochloides (Roshev.) Soreng, Cabi & L.J.Gillespie
  374. Poa nervosa (Hook.) Vasey
  375. Poa nitidespiculata Bor
  376. Poa nivicola Ridl.
  377. Poa × nobilis Skalinska
  378. Poa novae-zelandiae Hack.
  379. Poa novarae Reichardt
  380. Poa nubensis Giussani, Fern.Pepi & Morrone
  381. Poa nubigena Keng f. ex L.Liu
  382. Poa nyaradyana Nannf.
  383. Poa obvallata Steud.
  384. Poa occidentalis (Vasey) Vasey
  385. Poa ogamontana Mochizuki
  386. Poa olajensis Prob.
  387. Poa olonovae Tzvelev
  388. Poa opinata Veldkamp
  389. Poa orba N.G.Walsh
  390. Poa orientisibirica Olonova
  391. Poa orizabensis Hitchc.
  392. Poa orthoclada N.G.Walsh
  393. Poa orthophylla Pilg.
  394. Poa paczoskii Tzvelev
  395. Poa pagophila Bor
  396. Poa palmeri Soreng & P.M.Peterson
  397. Poa paludigena Fernald & Wiegand
  398. Poa palustris L.
  399. Poa pannonica A.Kern.
  400. Poa paposana Phil.
  401. Poa papuana Stapf
  402. Poa parva Veldkamp
  403. Poa parvifolia Refulio
  404. Poa pattersonii Vasey
  405. Poa pauciflora Roem. & Schult.
  406. Poa paucispicula Scribn. & Merr.
  407. Poa × pawlowskii V.Jirásek
  408. Poa pearsonii Reeder
  409. Poa pedersenii Nicora
  410. Poa pentapolitana H.Scholz
  411. Poa perconcinna J.R.Edm.
  412. Poa perennis Keng ex Keng f.
  413. Poa perligulata Pilg.
  414. Poa perrieri A.Camus
  415. Poa persica Trin.
  416. Poa petrophila Vickery
  417. Poa petrosa Swallen
  418. Poa pfisteri Soreng
  419. Poa phillipsiana Vickery
  420. Poa physoclina N.G.Walsh
  421. Poa pilata Chase
  422. Poa pilcomayensis Hack.
  423. Poa pindariensis P.Agnihotri, Sangam Sharma & D.Prasad
  424. Poa pitardiana H.Scholz
  425. Poa planifolia Kuntze
  426. Poa platyantha Kom.
  427. Poa plicata Hack.
  428. Poa poiformis (Labill.) Druce
  429. Poa polycolea Stapf
  430. Poa polyneura Bor
  431. Poa × poppelwellii Petrie
  432. Poa populetorum Prob.
  433. Poa porphyroclados Nees
  434. Poa pratensis L.
  435. Poa prichardii Rendle
  436. Poa primae Tzvelev
  437. Poa pringlei Scribn.
  438. Poa probatovae Olonova & Chepinoga
  439. Poa pseudamoena Bor
  440. Poa pseudoabbreviata Roshev.
  441. Poa pseudoattenuata Prob.
  442. Poa pseudobulbosa Bor
  443. Poa pseudoradula Prob.
  444. Poa pseudoschimperiana Chiov.
  445. Poa pulviniformis (Veldkamp) Veldkamp
  446. Poa pumila Host
  447. Poa pumilio Hochst.
  448. Poa pusilla Berggr.
  449. Poa pygmaea Buchanan
  450. Poa qinghaiensis Soreng & G.H.Zhu
  451. Poa quadrata Veldkamp
  452. Poa radula Franch. & Sav.
  453. Poa raduliformis Prob.
  454. Poa ragonesei Nicora
  455. Poa rajbhandarii Noltie
  456. Poa ramifera Soreng & P.M.Peterson
  457. Poa ramoniana Soreng & Sylvester
  458. Poa ramosissima Hook.f.
  459. Poa rauhii (Swallen & Tovar) Refulio
  460. Poa reclinata (Swallen) Soreng & P.M.Peterson
  461. Poa reflexa Vasey & Scribn.
  462. Poa rehmannii (Asch. & Graebn.) K.Richt.
  463. Poa reitzii Swallen
  464. Poa remota Forselles
  465. Poa resinulosa Nees ex Steud.
  466. Poa rhadina Bor
  467. Poa rhizomata Hitchc.
  468. Poa rigidula Veldkamp
  469. Poa riphaea (Asch. & Graebn.) Fritsch
  470. Poa rodwayi Vickery
  471. Poa royleana Nees ex Steud.
  472. Poa ruprechtii Peyr.
  473. Poa ruwenzoriensis Robyns & Tournay
  474. Poa × sachalinensis (Koidz.) Honda
  475. Poa saksonovii Tzvelev
  476. Poa salinostepposa Prob.
  477. Poa sallacustris N.G.Walsh
  478. Poa saltuensis Fernald & Wiegand
  479. Poa sanchez-vegae Soreng & P.M.Peterson
  480. Poa sandvicensis (Reichardt) Hitchc.
  481. Poa × sanionis Asch. & Graebn.
  482. Poa scaberula Hook.f.
  483. Poa scabrivaginata Tovar
  484. Poa schimperiana Hochst. ex A.Rich.
  485. Poa schistacea Edgar & Connor
  486. Poa schizantha Parodi
  487. Poa schmidtiana Prob. & Barkalov
  488. Poa schoenoides Phil.
  489. Poa × sclerocalamos Facchini ex Ambrosi
  490. Poa secunda J.Presl
  491. Poa sejuncta Bernátová & Májovský & Obuch
  492. Poa seleri Pilg.
  493. Poa sellovii Nees
  494. Poa senex Edgar
  495. Poa serpana Refulio
  496. Poa setulosa Bor
  497. Poa shumushuensis Ohwi
  498. Poa sibirica Roshev.
  499. Poa sichotensis Prob.
  500. Poa sieberiana Spreng.
  501. Poa sierrae J.T.Howell
  502. Poa sikkimensis (Stapf) Bor
  503. Poa simensis Hochst. ex A.Rich.
  504. Poa sinaica Steud.
  505. Poa sintenisii H.Lindb.
  506. Poa siphonoglossa Hack.
  507. Poa smirnowii Roshev.
  508. Poa sorengiana Olonova & Harsh Singh
  509. Poa spania Edgar & Molloy
  510. Poa speluncarum J.R.Edm.
  511. Poa sphondylodes Trin.
  512. Poa spiciformis (Steud.) Hauman & Parodi
  513. Poa spicigera Tovar
  514. Poa stapfiana Bor
  515. Poa stebbinsii Soreng
  516. Poa stellaris Veldkamp
  517. Poa stenantha Trin.
  518. Poa sterilis M.Bieb.
  519. Poa stewartiana Bor
  520. Poa stiriaca Fritsch & Hayek
  521. Poa strictiramea Hitchc.
  522. Poa stuckertii (Hack.) Parodi
  523. Poa suavis Veldkamp
  524. Poa subinsignis Prob.
  525. Poa sublanata Reverd.
  526. Poa sublimis Edgar
  527. Poa subspicata (J.Presl) Kunth
  528. Poa subvestita (Hack.) Edgar
  529. Poa sudicola Edgar
  530. Poa sugawarae Ohwi
  531. Poa suksdorfii (Beal) Piper
  532. Poa sunbisinii Soreng & G.H.Zhu
  533. Poa superlanata Prob.
  534. Poa supina Schrad.
  535. Poa swallenii Refulio
  536. Poa sylvestris A.Gray
  537. Poa szechuensis Rendle
  538. Poa takasagomontana Ohwi
  539. Poa talamancae R.W.Pohl
  540. Poa talikensis Prob. & Barkalov
  541. Poa tanfiljewii Roshev.
  542. Poa tangii Hitchc.
  543. Poa × taurica H.N.Pojark.
  544. Poa tayacajaensis Soreng & Sylvester
  545. Poa telata Veldkamp
  546. Poa tenera F.Muell. ex Hook.f.
  547. Poa tenerrima Scribn.
  548. Poa tenkensis Prob.
  549. Poa tennantiana Petrie
  550. Poa tenuicula Ohwi
  551. Poa teretifolia Renvoize
  552. Poa thessala Boiss. & Orph.
  553. Poa thomasii Refulio
  554. Poa tianschanica (Regel) Hack. ex O.Fedtsch.
  555. Poa timoleontis Heldr. ex Boiss.
  556. Poa tolmatchewii Roshev.
  557. Poa tonsa Edgar
  558. Poa tovarii Soreng
  559. Poa trachyantha Hack.
  560. Poa trachyphylla Pilg.
  561. Poa tracyi Vasey
  562. Poa trichopoda Heldr. & Sartori ex Boiss.
  563. Poa tricolor Nees ex Steud.
  564. Poa trinervis (Hack.) C.Monod ex P.Royen
  565. Poa triodioides (Trin.) Zotov
  566. Poa trivialiformis Kom.
  567. Poa trivialis L.
  568. Poa trollii (Pilg.) Refulio
  569. Poa tuberifera Faurie ex Hack.
  570. Poa tucumana Parodi
  571. Poa tuonnachensis Prob. & Barkalov
  572. Poa turgensis Prob.
  573. Poa tuvinensis Prob.
  574. Poa tzvelevii Prob.
  575. Poa × tzyrenovae Prob.
  576. Poa ullungdoensis I.C.Chung
  577. Poa umbricola Vickery
  578. Poa umbrosa Trin.
  579. Poa unilateralis Scribn. ex Vasey
  580. Poa unispiculata Davidse, Soreng & P.M.Peterson
  581. Poa ursina Velen.
  582. Poa urssulensis Trin.
  583. Poa urubambensis Sylvester & Soreng
  584. Poa uruguayensis Parodi
  585. Poa ussuriensis Roshev.
  586. Poa uzonica Prob.
  587. Poa vaginata Pamp.
  588. Poa verae Prob.
  589. Poa veresczaginii Tzvelev
  590. Poa versicolor Besser
  591. Poa vorobievii Prob.
  592. Poa vvedenskyi Drobow
  593. Poa wallowensis Soreng
  594. Poa wardiana Bor
  595. Poa wendtii Soreng & P.M.Peterson
  596. Poa wheeleri Vasey
  597. Poa wilhelminae Veldkamp
  598. Poa × wippraensis Wein
  599. Poa wisselii Jansen
  600. Poa wolfii Scribn.
  601. Poa xenica Edgar & Connor
  602. Poa xingkaiensis Y.X.Ma
  603. Poa yaganica Speg.
  604. Poa yatsugatakensis Honda
  605. Poa zhirmunskii Prob.
  606. Poa zhongdianensis L.Liu

Beyond the Green: Human Uses of Poa

Beyond its ecological importance, Poa has a long history of human use. For centuries, various Poa species have been utilized for livestock grazing, providing essential fodder for domesticated animals. The nutritional value and palatability of these grasses make them a valuable resource for agriculture and animal husbandry.  

Furthermore, Poa plays a significant role in recreation and leisure. Its use in lawns and sports fields provides us with spaces for relaxation, sports, and social gatherings. The soft, resilient turf of Kentucky bluegrass, for instance, creates an ideal surface for golf courses, football fields, and parks, enhancing our quality of life.

The Future of Poa

As our climate changes and human impact on the environment intensifies, the resilience and adaptability of Poa become even more critical. Understanding the diverse characteristics of different Poa species is crucial for developing sustainable land management practices, conserving biodiversity, and mitigating the effects of climate change.

Researchers continue to explore the genetic diversity of Poa, seeking to unlock its potential for developing improved cultivars with enhanced drought tolerance, disease resistance, and nutritional value. These efforts hold the key to ensuring the continued ecological and economic importance of Poa in a changing world.

In conclusion, the genus Poa represents a remarkable group of grasses that plays a vital role in our planet’s ecosystems and human societies. Its diversity, adaptability, and ecological significance make it a subject of ongoing fascination and research. As we continue to learn more about Poa, we can better appreciate its value and harness its potential for a sustainable future.

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