Bulbous Bluegrass

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