''Poa macrantha'' is a species of
grass known by the common names seashore bluegrass and large-flowered sand dune bluegrass. It is native to the west coast of North America from
Alaska to northern
California, where it grows in
sand dunes
A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, fl ...
and other beach habitat.
Description
''Poa macrantha'' is a perennial grass growing in loose clumps with stems up to 60 centimeters in maximum height. The grass grows from a network of very long, stout
rhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome (; , ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow hori ...
s and
stolon
In biology, stolons (from Latin '' stolō'', genitive ''stolōnis'' – "branch"), also known as runners, are horizontal connections between organisms. They may be part of the organism, or of its skeleton; typically, animal stolons are external s ...
s which may be up to 4 meters in length, anchoring the grass in its shifting sandy substrate. The
inflorescence is a dense series of clustered spikelets which are flattened and longer than wide. The plant is
dioecious
Dioecy (; ; adj. dioecious , ) is a characteristic of a species, meaning that it has distinct individual organisms (unisexual) that produce male or female gametes, either directly (in animals) or indirectly (in seed plants). Dioecious reproductio ...
with male and female individuals bearing different types of flowers; the two flower types are similar in appearance.
External links
Jepson Manual Treatment - ''Poa macrantha''USDA Plants Profile; Poa macranthaGrass Manual Treatment
macrantha
Native grasses of California
Grasses of the United States
Grasses of Canada
Dioecious plants
{{Pooideae-stub