Poa scabrella

(Thunb.) Benth. ex Vasey

Pine bluegrass, Curly Blue Grass

Poaceae Edible: Seeds, Cereal 7 iNaturalist observations

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Wikimedia Commons - Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA

wikimedia· cc-by-sa

Wikimedia Commons - Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA

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Summary

A perennial grass reaching 1 m tall. Wind-pollinated hermaphroditic flowers produce seeds. Tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with good drainage. Prefers mildly acidic to basic pH and requires full sun and moist soil conditions.

Description

Edible Uses

The seed is edible, though no further preparation details are recorded. It is worth noting that the seed is very small and fiddly to collect and process.

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

Canada, North America, USA,

Propagation

Surface sow seed in spring in a cold frame, keeping the compost consistently moist. Prick seedlings into individual pots once large enough to handle, and grow them on in the greenhouse through their first winter. Plant out into permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring is also straightforward — larger divisions can go directly into permanent positions. Smaller divisions are better potted up and grown on in light shade in a cold frame until well established, then planted out in late spring or early summer.

Other Uses

None known.

Notes

There are about 300 Poa species. They grow in temperate regions.

References (3)

Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Foodplant Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/foodplantdb.(ACEDB version 4.0 - data version July 1994)
Grass. U.S. 42. 1883 (As (Thurb.) Benth. ex Vasey)
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/