Life history

Species overview

Bog Bluegrass (Poa paludigena), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found in forested seeps and fens, mostly under hardwoods and alders. Blooming occurs throughout June; fruiting occurs late June through early July. The optimal identification period for this species is throughout June.

Synonyms: None

Identification

• Distinguishing characteristics: Can be distinguished from other Poa species by its lemmas, which are pubescent on the margins but glabrous between the inconspicuous veins.
• Flower characteristics: Panicle loose and open, mostly 5 to 10 cm long, the branches long and slender, distant, the lower mostly in twos, spikelet-bearing above the middle; spikelets mostly 4 to 5 mm long, narrow, 2- to 5-flowered.
• Fruit characteristics: Lemmas 2.5 to 3.5 mm long, webbed at base with a few long hairs, the keel and lateral nerves pubescent on the lower half or two-thirds, the intermediate nerves glabrous, obscure.
• Leaf characteristics: Sheaths minutely scabrous; ligule short, truncate, the uppermost as much as 1.5 mm long; blades rather lax, mostly erect, .3 to 2 mm wide.

Phenology

• Blooming phenology: throughout June
• Fruiting phenology: late June through early July
• Optimum time to identify: throughout June

Other

• Growth form: Graminoid
• Vegetative reproduction:
• Life cycle: Perennial
• Comments: Associated Species: Alnus rugosa, Fraxinus nigra, Betula alleghaniensis, Symplocarpus foetidus, Carex bromoides, C. leptalea, C. stipata, Caltha palustris, Angelica atropurpurea, Impatiens capensis, Floerkea proserpinacoides, Tilia americana.

State status

Note: Bog Bluegrass (Poa paludigena) was removed from the Wisconsin E/T list on January 1, 2014 per administrative rule ER-27-11. Learn more.

Status and Natural Heritage Inventory documented occurrences in Wisconsin

The table below provides information about the protected status - state and federal - and the rank (S and G Ranks) for Bog Bluegrass (Poa paludigena). See the Working List Key for more information about abbreviations. Counties shaded blue have documented occurrences for this species in the Wisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory database. The map is provided as a general reference of where this species has been found to date and is not meant as a range map.

Habitats and landscapes

The Natural Heritage Inventory has developed scores indicating the degree to which each of Wisconsin's rare plant species is associated with a particular natural community or ecological landscape. This information is similar to that found in the Wildlife Action Plan for animals. As this is a work in progress, we welcome your suggestions and feedback.

General habitat information

• Habitat description: Found in forested seeps and fens, mostly under hardwoods and alders.
• Soils: Moist to wet soils.

Natural communities

This table lists the natural communities that are associated with Bog Bluegrass. Scores for natural community associations are: "significant" association (score=3), "moderate association" (score=2) or the species can be present but is only weakly associated with the community (score=1).

Ecological landscapes

This table lists the ecological landscape association scores for Bog Bluegrass. The scores (3=High, 2=Moderate, 1=Low, 0=None) also correspond to the map.

Species guidance

The Endangered Resources Program has developed avoidance measures and management guidelines for plants on the Natural Heritage Working List. These are a work in progress, and we welcome your suggestions and feedback. Sources used in developing this information can be found here.

Avoidance measures

These are specific actions designed to avoid "take" (mortality) of this species.

• Avoid broadcast spraying of herbicides; use care with spot spraying.
• Avoid known individual plant locations and conduct operations elsewhere when they are least likely to cause damage. Ideally, this would involve frozen, snow-covered ground. However, in areas of the state where frozen conditions are unreliable, very dry soils late in the growing season might be the best available alternative. Consult with a biologist, if needed.
• Avoid direct disturbance to sensitive microsites such as seeps, cliffs, and moss-covered boulders.

Management guidance

Management guidelines are additional considerations that may help maintain or enhance habitat for this species

• Minimize disturbance to hydrology, including soil disturbance from rutting.
• Follow BMPs, especially around streams and use care near ravines, steep slopes, cliffs, rock outcrops, etc.
• Buffer management around unique microhabitats such as ephemeral ponds, seeps, etc.
• Avoid rapid and dramatic reductions in canopy cover or basal area in wet areas to reduce risk of swamping.

Other resources

Links to additional Bog Bluegrass information

Other links related to vascular plants (all exit the DNR website)

• Wisconsin Flora
• NatureServe Explorer
• Atlas of Wisconsin Prairie and Savanna Flora - Wisconsin State Herbarium
• USDA - NRCS Plants Database
• USGS Midwestern Wetland Flora - field office guide to plant species
• eFloras
• Cofrin Center for Biodiversity Herbarium
• Intermountain Herbarium Grasses of North America
• Orchids of Wisconsin

Photos

Click to view a larger version. Please considering donating a photo to the Natural Heritage Conservation Program for educational uses. Photo use