42 



BULLETIN 65, HAWAII EXPERIMENT STATION 



No. 40. POA PRATENSIS (6, p. 120 ) 

 Common names: Kentucky bluegrass, bluegrass 



Kentucky bluegrass grows throughout the Temperate Zones of both 

 hemispheres. It grows in the Tropics at the higher altitudes. In 

 Hawan it is found growing as low as 2,600 feet, although its optimum 

 growth is at 4,000 feet or higher. Kentucky bluegrass is a perennial, 

 erect and spreading, and 1 to 2 feet tall. It forms an excellent compact 

 turf when grazed. Primarily a rich-soil grass, it is decidedly shade- 

 loving and hence is ideally adapted to the cool, cloudy upper slopes of 



Figure 40 — Poa pratensis 



Hawaii. It grows well in combination with other grasses and with 

 clovers. On the Waimea plains of the Parker ranch it persists together 

 with Hilo grass, Dallis grass, Bermuda grass, and bromegrass, and 

 with clovers and alfilaria. Kentucky bluegrass is one of the most 

 palatable of grasses, and is preferred by all kinds of livestock, including 

 dairy cattle and fattening beef animals. Under favorable conditions 

 of soil and climate, it withstands heavy and continuous grazing and 

 recovers rapidly after a dry period or a frost. 



A related species, Poa annua, grows to some extent at the higher 

 altitudes in Hawaii. It is regarded as an excellent feed in shaded and 

 wet places. It is an annual, semierect, and 4 to 12 inches tall. P. 

 annua is tufted with very fine leaves and is rather easily killed by 

 heavy grazing, and by encroachment of perennial grasses. 



