POA PALUSTRIS
10. Poa palustris L. FOWL BLUE-GRASS, FOWL MEADOW-GRASS, SWAMP MEADOW-GRASS.
A perennial with short rootstocks which produce a few leafy shoots forming loose tufts; thrives best in moist meadows and pastures, in ditches and along streams.
Leaves folded in the bud-shoot. Sheath compressed and keeled, glabrous, slightly scabrous, green, split nearly to base with margins overlapping part of the way; margins scarious. Auricles absent. Collar distinct, glabrous, pale green, V-shaped. Ligule membranous, 1.5 to 3.5 mm. long, acute, entire or often toothed. Blade 2 to 4 mm. wide, 7 to 15 cm. long, flat or slightly V-shaped, keeled, broad at base, tapering to tip, slightly scabrous, pale green, not ridged but showing two light lines along midrib which are more distinct near the tip than at the base of blade; margins minutely hairy, retrorsely so at base.
Its distinguishing characters are its long acute ligule, compressed and keeled sheaths, and broad truncate-based blades which stand erect or ascending on the shoots.
