PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

 
 
   
 
Scientific Name Common Name Global Rank State Rank Federal Status WI Status

Woodland Bluegrass (Poa sylvestris)

POASYL_EJJ.jpg

 

 

 

 

10416.jpg

Photo by Emmet Judziewicz

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Woodland Bluegrass (Poa sylvestris), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found on very moist streambanks and in mesic forests. Blooming occurs mid-May through June, fruiting June through August. The optimal identification period for this species is early-June through July.

 
 
 

Woodland bluegrass is a graminoid, 40-80cm tall, with a cespitose, slightly compressed stem and an open panicle, 10-20cm long, much longer than wide. Branches are in sets of 4-8, the lower ones drooping. Spikelets are 2-4-flowered and 3-4mm long. Its caryopsis has adherent pericarp. Lemmas have 5 veins and are 2.5-3mm long, webbed at base, and are pubescent on keel and marginal nerves. Leaves are 2-6mm wide, lax and soft, mostly along the stem. Sheaths are glabrous (rarely pubescent), ligule ~1mm long.

Its distinguishing characteristics include its lemmas that have 5 veins and are webbed at base, its lower panicle branches being in sets of about 5 or more, and its ligule, which is ~1mm long.

Blooming occurs mid-May through June, fruiting June through August.

Perennial. The optimal identification period for this species is early-June through July.

Associated species include Ulmus americana, Acer saccharum, Fagus grandifolia, Quercus rubra, Ostrya virginiana, Caulophyllum thalictroides, Hydrophyllum virginianum, Erythronium albidum, Carex hirtifolia, Adiantum pedatum, Geranium maculatum, Dentaria laciniatum, Sanguinaria canadensis, and Podophyllum peltatum.

Woodland bluegrass prefers moist, often calcareous soils and is found in very moist stream banks and in mesic forests.

Avoid known individual plant locations and conduct operations elsewhere when they are least likely to cause damage. Ideally, this would involve frozen, snow-covered ground. However, in areas of the state where frozen conditions are unreliable, very dry soils late in the growing season might be the best available alternative. Consult with a biologist, if needed.

Avoid broadcast spraying of herbicides and use care with spot spraying.

This species requires shaded habitat conditions, maintain high forest canopy cover.

Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are associated with habitats (or natural communities) and places on the landscape. Understanding relationships among SGCN, natural communities and ecological landscapes help us make decisions about issues affecting SGCN and their habitat and how to respond. Download the Wildlife Action Plan association score spreadsheet to explore rare species, natural communities and ecological landscape associations

Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.