Poaceae

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Family: Poaceae

Group: Vascular Plant, Species

Scientific NameCommon NameSummary
Agropyron cristatumCrested wheatgrassSingle reports in AKEPIC from Prince of Wales (2005) and Haines (2007).
Agrostis capillarisColonial BentgrassIntroduced grass A few scattered collections. Reported in AKEPIC primarily from the southern half of the region, but also Juneau.
Agrostis exarataSpike RedtopMany collections from across the region.
Agrostis giganteaRedtopIntroduced grass of waste places Apparently few collections from the region, but many reports in AKEPIC from Prince of Wales Island
Agrostis mertensiiRed BentgrassScattered collections from across the region, though most from the northern mainland.
Agrostis oregonensisOregon BentgrassNot reported from the region, but has been found immediately south of the border (found on Dundas Island, BC) and could be expected to occur in extreme southern Southeast.
Agrostis scabraTicklegrassCommon grass of open areas. Scattered collections from across the region, though few from outer islands or outer coast.
Agrostis stoloniferaCreeping BentgrassIntroduced grass of wasteplaces Collections or reports (in AKEPIC) from across the region, primarily associated with towns and road systems. Relatively few reports from the northern mainland.
Alopecurus aequalisShort-awn FoxtailScattered collections from across most of the region.
Alopecurus geniculatusWater FoxtailIntroduced in Southeast Alaska. May not be established in the region, only a couple of collections, and no other reports in AKEPIC (where it is listed as introduced).
Alopecurus pratensisMeadow FoxtailIntroduced to Southeast Alaska. Collections from the northern mainland, but many reports in AKEPIC from many communities across the region, and Prince of Wales Island road system.
Anthoxanthum hirtumNorthern SweetgrassCollections from across much of the region, though apparently none from the southern outer islands.
Anthoxanthum monticolaAlpine SweetgrassMost collections from northern mainland, also collections from the far southern mainland. Apparently no island collection records.
Anthoxanthum odoratumSweet Vernal GrassIntroduced grass with contracted or spike-like panicle Few collections. Reported in AKEPIC database from Sitka, Petersburg, Wrangell, and Ketchikan.
Arctagrostis latifoliaPolargrassA few collections, one from Stikine River mouth, three from above Greens Creek (Admiralty Island), and one from Dyea.
Arctophila fulvaPendant GrassOnly collections in PacNW herbaria are from Yakutat.
Arrhenatherum elatiusTall oatgrassFew collections or reports from the region. Most recent (2007) from Hoonah road system, but also older reports from Sandy Bay, Prince of Wales Island, Mitkof Island, and Sitka. May not be established in the region.
Avena fatuaWild OatMost recent report of this species was a collection made in Hoonah (1979). Probably not established in the region.
Beckmannia syzigachneAmerican sloughgrassA single collection from Haines airport is the only one from the region in PacNW herbaria database.
Bromus aleutensisAleutian BromeA 1939 collection from Hyder is the only one identified as this species in ARCTOS and showing up from the region. PacNW herbaria has no records from the, though shows numerous collections from BC (where this species does not appear to be recognized by e-Flora BC) and northwest Washington.
Bromus carinatusCalifornia bromeAnnual or biennial grass native from British Columbia south to California, introduced to the Yukon and northern southeast Alaska

Apparently no collection records from Southeast Alaska, there are many records of this species from coastal British Columbia right up to the border with Southeast Alaska.

When Bromus carinatus is searched in PacNW herbaria database, records that come up are B. sitchensis var. marginatus - so apparently that taxonomy treats this species as a variety of Alaska Brome (Bromus sitchensis).
Bromus ciliatusFringed bromePerennial tufted grass with open nodding panicles

A single collection from Glacier Bay is the only record from the region in herbaria database.

Map in Field Guide to Alaska Grasses shows a record from Sitka.
Bromus commutatusMeadow BromeGrass Manual map does not show any records for the area. The only report appears to be an isolated record from the vicinity of Skagway included on Hulten's map for this species. Presumably not established in the region.
Bromus hordeaceusSoft BromeAn old collection from Juneau (1940), and the Field Guide to Alaska Grasses includes a report from Hyder. No records in AKEPIC database from the region. This species is probably not established in the region.
Bromus inermisSmooth BromeA few scattered records (collections and AKEPIC reports) from towns or road systems in the region, most from the northern mainland.
Bromus pacificusPacific BromeCollection records from southwest Chichagof Island and south (but none from the mainland) Pacific Northwest coast endemic that apparently reaches the northern extent of its range in Southeast Alaska.
Bromus richardsoniiRichardson BromeIt's unclear whether this occurs in the area (Grass Manual maps suggests no), or whether it's better called B. ciliatus (USDA-PLANTS says yes, and Grass Manual map suggests it's closer to here than B. richardsonii). Hulten indicates a report from the Stikine River, but there are no collections in PacNW herbaria database.
Bromus secalinusRye bromeWeedy annual grass with stongly flattened, awned spikelets A single 2007 report in AKEPIC from Haines. Anderson also included this species in a 1918 report (referenced in AKEPIC). May not be established in the region.
Bromus sitchensisAlaska BromeA few scattered collection from across much of the region, except none from the northern gulf coast.
Bromus tectorumCheatgrassThree reports - Haines (1921), Juneau (2010), and Prince of Wales Island (1997). May not be established in the region.
Calamagrostis canadensisBluejointMany collections from across the region.
Calamagrostis deschampsioidesCircumpolar reedgrassA few collections from Sitkine River mouth, Port Snettisham, Taku Inlet, Dyea, and Situk River estuary.
Calamagrostis lapponicaLapland reedgrassLarge perennial grass with narrow panicles Two collections from the far southern part of the region in ARCTOS. Field Guide to Alaska Grasses includes an additional dot at Sitka.
Calamagrostis nutkaensisPacific ReedgrassCommon rhizomatous grass of estuary meadows and of Sitka spruce dominated headlands. Suprisingly few collections mostly from the far southern portion of the region. Also from Port Snettisham and Lisianski Inlet.
Calamagrostis purpurascensPurple reedgrassPerennial tufted grass with a spike-like panicle A single collection from Takhin Ridge outside of Haines is the only record from the region.
Calamagrostis strictaNorthern ReedgrassA few scattered collections from northern half of the region. (Somewhat difficult to be sure due to taxonomic changes and/or subspecies not always showing up under species search.)
Cinna latifoliaWoodreedScattered collections, mostly from the northern mainland.
Dactylis glomerataOrchard GrassA few collections, but many reports in AKEPIC from across the region.
Danthonia intermediaTimber OatgrassCollected on Mt. Bokan, Prince of Wale Island. Also reported from Juneau area and east side of Lynn Canal.
Danthonia spicataPoverty OatgrassCollected on southern Prince of Wales Island.
Deschampsia cespitosaTufted HairgrassMany collections from across the region.
Deschampsia danthonioidesAnnual hairgrassGrass manual suggests it does not occur in Southeast Alaska. Hulten included dots at Juneau and near Yakutat, but apparently no other reports.
Deschampsia elongataSlender HairgrassGrass manual does not indicate presence of this species in Southeast Alaska. Few collections, but many reports of this species in AKEPIC from Prince of Wales Island, eastern Chichagof Island, and near Petersburg.
Deschampsia flexuosaWavy HairgrassGrass manual map does not indicate records from Alaska. Hulten included a report from Sitka, which appears to be the only one from the region.
Elymus alaskanusAlaskan WheatgrassThe Field Guide to Alaska Grasses does not show this species occurring in Southeast Alaska. Most records in ARCTOS of this species are of ssp. latiglumis which e-Flora BC indicates is synonymous with Arctic Wheatgrass (Elymus violaceus), which the field guide treats as a valid species.
Elymus glaucusWestern RyegrassScattered collections, mostly from the northern half of the region.
Elymus hirsutusNorthern RyegrassScattered collections from across the region, mostly on the outer islands or outer coast.
Elymus repensQuackgrassIntroduced A few collections, and many reports in AKEPIC from the northern half of the region.
Elymus sibiricusSiberian wildryeIntroduced Apparently no collections from the region. Reports in AKEPIC from Juneau, Skagway, Haines, and Haines Highway.
Elymus trachycaulusSlender WheatgrassScattered collections from across the region, though more on the northern mainland.
Elymus violaceusArctic WheatgrassA few collections from the northern mainland.
Elymus x yukonensisYukon WheatgrassCurrent taxonomy is a little unclear, but there do not appear to be any records of this species from the region. Inclusion in preliminary checklist appears to be based on Hulten's map. The circle around reported locations includes the far northeastern part of the region (without any reports from the Alaska side of the border).
Festuca altaicaRough fescuePerennial tufted grass with open panicles and purplish-bronze spikelets found in open areas of upper elevations Collections near the border outside of Haines and Skagway, also from the Alsek River near the border.
Festuca brachyphyllaAlpine FescueCollections from across the region, but primarily from the mainland (especially the northern mainland).
Festuca occidentalisWestern FescueCollections from a single location outside of Haines represent the only records from the region.
Festuca rubraRed FescueMany collections from across the region.
Festuca saximontanaRocky Mountain FescueCollected from Juneau and from the lower Alsek River.
Festuca subulataBearded FescueA few scattered collections mostly on islands and one from Yakutat and another (1925) from Juneau.
Festuca viviparoideaNorthern FescueTwo records from the region, Takhin ridge outside of Haines and north end of Admiralty Island.
Glyceria borealisSmall Floating MannagrassA few scattered collections from the southern two thirds of the region.
Glyceria grandisAmerican mannagrassPerennial rhizomatous grass with open panicles each spike with 4-5 flowers Apparently only three collections, from Haines, northern Chichagof Island, and from the Stikine River.
Glyceria leptostachyaDavy mannagrassOnly a few collections, from Prince of Wales Island, Ketchikan, Wrangell, and Sitka.
Glyceria striataFowl mannagrassPerennial tufted grass Collected from Stikine River mouth and from Chichagof Island.
Holcus lanatusCommon VelvetgrassMany reports in AKEPIC from communities, road systems, and other disturbed areas in the southern half of the region.
Hordeum brachyantherumMeadow BarleyScattered collections from across the region.
Hordeum jubatumFoxtail BarleyA few collections, most from the northern part of the region. This species is included in AKEPIC database, and may be introduced to the region. (It is thought to be native to at least part of the state, but has been spread beyond its native range by human activity.)
Hordeum vulgareBarleyThough probably cultivated in historic times, it seems unlikely that this species has naturalized in the area. No collections from the region. A single (1918) report in AKEPIC from Juneau.
Leymus mollisDune GrassRobust bluish grass often forming extensive colonies just above the high tide line Collections spanning the region, though apparently none from the southern outside islands.
Lolium multiflorumItalian RyegrassA handful of collections from the region. AKEPIC database includes reports from several communities or sites of human disturbance, including Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka, Kake, and Juneau.
Lolium perennePerennial RyegrassA handful of collections along with many records in AKEPIC database from Gustavus and Juneau south.
Melica subulataAlaska oniongrassA handful of collections scattered along islands of the outer coast from as far north as Kruzof Island (which appears to be the northernmost record of this species - though it has also been reported from Unalaska).
Phalaris arundinaceaReed CanarygrassA few scattered collections from across the region. Many reports in AKEPIC from almost anywhere with roads or settlements.
Phalaris canariensisAnnual CanarygrassA 1926 collection from Juneau in ARCTOS and a 2004 AKEPIC report from the Wrangell Ranger district are the only reports of this species from the region.
Phippsia algidaIcegrassCollections from the continental side of the coastal ranges north and east of the region.
Phleum alpinumAlpine TimothyProbably throughout, but collections primarily from the northern mainland, and a few from the outer islands, with one from Admiralty Island.
Phleum pratenseTimothyA few scattered collections from the region (including at least one from an uninhabited wilderness area), and many reports in AKEPIC from road systems and communities throughout the region.
Poa alpinaAlpine BluegrassTufted grass with wide basal leaves and fat spikelets found at high elevations and colder microsites. Collections from across much of the region, though none from the southern half (or more) of the mainland.
Poa annuaAnnual BluegrassA few collections from across the region. Many reports in AKEPIC database from human impacted areas.
Poa arcticaArctic BluegrassCollections primarily from the northern mainland and northern-most islands. Also collected near Hyder and on Revillagigedo Island.
Poa compressaCanada BluegrassA handful of collections from the region. Reports in AKEPIC mostly from the southern part of the region, but also from communities along Lynn Canal.
Poa eminensLarge-flower SpeargrassRhizomatous grass of beaches, tide flats and brackish meadows. The large compact inflorescence is distinctive. Collections from the northern two thirds of the region. Apparently this species reaches the southern and eastern edge of its normal range in the region (it is considered a very rare species in BC, with a small number of records).
Poa glaucaGlaucous BluegrassCollections from the Stikine River and between Haines/Skagway and the BC border.
Poa interiorInland BluegrassCollections in ARCTOS from near Yakutat and on Chichagof Island. Field Guide to grasses indicates additional records from near Sitka and Juneau.
Poa laxifloraLooseflower BluegrassA few collections from the region, mostly from the central part (north/south-wise), but also from near Yakutat.
Poa leptocomaBog BluegrassScattered collections from across much of the region, mostly on the mainland.
Poa macranthaSeashore BluegrassCollected from Sea Lion Cove on Kruzof Island, and near Yakutat.
Poa macrocalyxLarge-glume BluegrassHas been reported from as far south as Khaz Peninsula on West Chichagof. This appears to be the southern-most reported occurrence in the eastern portion of the range.
Poa nemoralisWood BluegrassA single 1959 collection from the vicinity of Haines is the only one in ARCTOS of this species. See also Inland Bluegrass (Poa interior).
Poa palustrisFowl BluegrassCollections from across the region.
Poa paucispiculaAlaska BluegrassCollections primarily from the northern part of the region, with one from northern Prince of Wales being the only collection south of Sitka in the region.(Also occurs on Haida Gwaii and Vancouver Island, so perhaps should be expected throughout the region.)
Poa pratensisKentucky BluegrassCollections from the northern half of the region, reports in AKEPIC from across the region in human impacted locations. (Native susbspecies primarily found in the north?)
Poa secundaPine BluegrassNo collections from the region. Appears to be more continental (present on the interior side of the coast mountains in BC).
Poa stenanthaNorthern BluegrassCollections in ARCTOS from across most of the region, but more from the northern half.
Poa trivialisRough BluegrassFew collections from the region. Reports in AKEPIC mostly from central and southern islands along road systems.
Podagrostis aequivalvisNorthern BentgrassQuite a few collections from across the region other than the Northern Gulf Coast. (Present further west, so should be expected?)
Podagrostis humilisAlpine BentgrassGrass of wet meadows mostly in the alpine. A few scattered collections in ARCTOS from the region.
Polypogon monspeliensisRabbitfoot GrassA single 1946 collection from Juneau is the only record from the region. Probably not established in the region.
Pseudoroegneria spicataBluebunch WheatgrassA single 1961 collection in ARCTOS from Ketchikan is the only report of this species from the region. Given overall distribution of this species, it may be worth revisiting this collection to verify ID.
Puccinellia distansWeeping AlkaligrassNo collections from the region, though e-Flora BC includes one from White Pass just north of the border.
Puccinellia nutkaensisPacific AlkaligrassCollections in ARCTOS from the length of the region, but only collected from the outer coast near Yakutat.
Puccinellia nuttallianaNuttall's AlkaligrassAlthough included in the preliminary checklist and Hall's 2010 treatment, there appear to be no collections recorded from the region. E-flora BC includes a few well to interior side of the coast mountains.
Puccinellia phryganodesCreeping AlkaligrassNo collections in ARCTOS from the region (one initially identified as this species was re-labled Puccinellia sp - specifically rejecting this one). Nearest collection appears to be from vicinity of Bering Glacier.
Puccinellia pumilaDwarf AlkaligrassOnly a few collections from the region, but overall distribution suggests it could be expected throughout in appropriate habitat.
Schedonorus arundinaceusTall FescueA few collections from the northern part of the region in ARCTOS. Reports in AKEPIC from across much of the region, but not Lynn Canal, and few from Prince of Wales Island.
Schedonorus pratensisMeadow FescueNo collections in ARCTOS currently labeled as this species. Several reports in AKEPIC from NE Chichagof in logged area. (A collection from that area originally identified as this species is currently labeled Schedonorus arundinaceus.) Field Guide to Alaska Grasses indicates a record from Hyder as well.
Schizachne purpurascensFalse MelicNo collections from the region. Nearest records are from the Canadian side of the coast range. Also known from South Central Alaska.
Torreyochloa pallidaPale False MannagrassCollections in ARCTOS from across the region.
Trisetum cernuumNodding TrisetumCollections from throughout the region.
Trisetum spicatumDowny OatgrassCollections from across the region.
Triticum aestivumBread wheatA couple of collections in ARCTOS and a handful or reports in AKEPIC database. Unclear whether this species is established, or (seemingly more likely) if records are of non sustaining introductions.
Vahlodea atropurpureaMountain HairgrassCollections from throughout the region.