Poa curtifolia

Short angular grass with thick leaves, endemic to Wenatchee Serpentine. Widespread and common on relatively barren serpentine in higher parts of Wenatchee mountains, including near Lake Ann, Iron Peak, Longs Pass, upper Stafford Creek, and probably many other locations since I have found it any time there is suitable habitat. Roughly coextensive with Lomatium cuspidatum.

Easily recognized based on location on serpentine, very low growth, firm thick angular leaves, and usually bluish color. The only other roughly similar grass I have seen in the area is an Elmyrus species https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/174711405, with many distinguishing features, most obviously much thinner flexible ("grasslike") leaves.

Collar prominent, yellow to pale. Blade at 70-90 deg angle to stem. Blade folded, maturing to flattened at base, with pale edges and prominent pale veins, firm and thick, 1.5-3 mm wide, terminating in blunt closed keel. Ligule (sheath around stem just above base of leaf) membranous and prominent. Auricle (stem clasping extension of collar) absent.

exceedingly technical description:
http://dev.semanticfna.org/Poa_curtifolia

Probably present in various other observations:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/133636480
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/60189445
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/60189253
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/60186494 (maybe)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/59987088 (lower right, maybe)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/59986642
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/59985957

Posted on February 27, 2023 12:35 AM by jhorthos