Poaceae
From Natural History of Southeast Alaska
Family: Poaceae
Group: Vascular Plant, Species
Scientific Name | Common Name | Summary |
---|---|---|
Agropyron cristatum | Crested wheatgrass | Single reports in AKEPIC from Prince of Wales (2005) and Haines (2007). |
Agrostis capillaris | Colonial Bentgrass | Introduced grass A few scattered collections. Reported in AKEPIC primarily from the southern half of the region, but also Juneau. |
Agrostis exarata | Spike Redtop | Many collections from across the region. |
Agrostis gigantea | Redtop | Introduced grass of waste places Apparently few collections from the region, but many reports in AKEPIC from Prince of Wales Island |
Agrostis mertensii | Red Bentgrass | Scattered collections from across the region, though most from the northern mainland. |
Agrostis oregonensis | Oregon Bentgrass | Not 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 scabra | Ticklegrass | Common grass of open areas. Scattered collections from across the region, though few from outer islands or outer coast. |
Agrostis stolonifera | Creeping Bentgrass | Introduced 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 aequalis | Short-awn Foxtail | Scattered collections from across most of the region. |
Alopecurus geniculatus | Water Foxtail | Introduced 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 pratensis | Meadow Foxtail | Introduced 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 hirtum | Northern Sweetgrass | Collections from across much of the region, though apparently none from the southern outer islands. |
Anthoxanthum monticola | Alpine Sweetgrass | Most collections from northern mainland, also collections from the far southern mainland. Apparently no island collection records. |
Anthoxanthum odoratum | Sweet Vernal Grass | Introduced grass with contracted or spike-like panicle Few collections. Reported in AKEPIC database from Sitka, Petersburg, Wrangell, and Ketchikan. |
Arctagrostis latifolia | Polargrass | A few collections, one from Stikine River mouth, three from above Greens Creek (Admiralty Island), and one from Dyea. |
Arctophila fulva | Pendant Grass | Only collections in PacNW herbaria are from Yakutat. |
Arrhenatherum elatius | Tall oatgrass | Few 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 fatua | Wild Oat | Most recent report of this species was a collection made in Hoonah (1979). Probably not established in the region. |
Beckmannia syzigachne | American sloughgrass | A single collection from Haines airport is the only one from the region in PacNW herbaria database. |
Bromus aleutensis | Aleutian Brome | A 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 carinatus | California brome | Annual 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 ciliatus | Fringed brome | Perennial 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 commutatus | Meadow Brome | Grass 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 hordeaceus | Soft Brome | An 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 inermis | Smooth Brome | A few scattered records (collections and AKEPIC reports) from towns or road systems in the region, most from the northern mainland. |
Bromus pacificus | Pacific Brome | Collection 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 richardsonii | Richardson Brome | It'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 secalinus | Rye brome | Weedy 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 sitchensis | Alaska Brome | A few scattered collection from across much of the region, except none from the northern gulf coast. |
Bromus tectorum | Cheatgrass | Three reports - Haines (1921), Juneau (2010), and Prince of Wales Island (1997). May not be established in the region. |
Calamagrostis canadensis | Bluejoint | Many collections from across the region. |
Calamagrostis deschampsioides | Circumpolar reedgrass | A few collections from Sitkine River mouth, Port Snettisham, Taku Inlet, Dyea, and Situk River estuary. |
Calamagrostis lapponica | Lapland reedgrass | Large 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 nutkaensis | Pacific Reedgrass | Common 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 purpurascens | Purple reedgrass | Perennial tufted grass with a spike-like panicle A single collection from Takhin Ridge outside of Haines is the only record from the region. |
Calamagrostis stricta | Northern Reedgrass | A 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 latifolia | Woodreed | Scattered collections, mostly from the northern mainland. |
Dactylis glomerata | Orchard Grass | A few collections, but many reports in AKEPIC from across the region. |
Danthonia intermedia | Timber Oatgrass | Collected on Mt. Bokan, Prince of Wale Island. Also reported from Juneau area and east side of Lynn Canal. |
Danthonia spicata | Poverty Oatgrass | Collected on southern Prince of Wales Island. |
Deschampsia cespitosa | Tufted Hairgrass | Many collections from across the region. |
Deschampsia danthonioides | Annual hairgrass | Grass manual suggests it does not occur in Southeast Alaska. Hulten included dots at Juneau and near Yakutat, but apparently no other reports. |
Deschampsia elongata | Slender Hairgrass | Grass 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 flexuosa | Wavy Hairgrass | Grass 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 alaskanus | Alaskan Wheatgrass | The 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 glaucus | Western Ryegrass | Scattered collections, mostly from the northern half of the region. |
Elymus hirsutus | Northern Ryegrass | Scattered collections from across the region, mostly on the outer islands or outer coast. |
Elymus repens | Quackgrass | Introduced A few collections, and many reports in AKEPIC from the northern half of the region. |
Elymus sibiricus | Siberian wildrye | Introduced Apparently no collections from the region. Reports in AKEPIC from Juneau, Skagway, Haines, and Haines Highway. |
Elymus trachycaulus | Slender Wheatgrass | Scattered collections from across the region, though more on the northern mainland. |
Elymus violaceus | Arctic Wheatgrass | A few collections from the northern mainland. |
Elymus x yukonensis | Yukon Wheatgrass | Current 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 altaica | Rough fescue | Perennial 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 brachyphylla | Alpine Fescue | Collections from across the region, but primarily from the mainland (especially the northern mainland). |
Festuca occidentalis | Western Fescue | Collections from a single location outside of Haines represent the only records from the region. |
Festuca rubra | Red Fescue | Many collections from across the region. |
Festuca saximontana | Rocky Mountain Fescue | Collected from Juneau and from the lower Alsek River. |
Festuca subulata | Bearded Fescue | A few scattered collections mostly on islands and one from Yakutat and another (1925) from Juneau. |
Festuca viviparoidea | Northern Fescue | Two records from the region, Takhin ridge outside of Haines and north end of Admiralty Island. |
Glyceria borealis | Small Floating Mannagrass | A few scattered collections from the southern two thirds of the region. |
Glyceria grandis | American mannagrass | Perennial 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 leptostachya | Davy mannagrass | Only a few collections, from Prince of Wales Island, Ketchikan, Wrangell, and Sitka. |
Glyceria striata | Fowl mannagrass | Perennial tufted grass Collected from Stikine River mouth and from Chichagof Island. |
Holcus lanatus | Common Velvetgrass | Many reports in AKEPIC from communities, road systems, and other disturbed areas in the southern half of the region. |
Hordeum brachyantherum | Meadow Barley | Scattered collections from across the region. |
Hordeum jubatum | Foxtail Barley | A 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 vulgare | Barley | Though 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 mollis | Dune Grass | Robust 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 multiflorum | Italian Ryegrass | A 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 perenne | Perennial Ryegrass | A handful of collections along with many records in AKEPIC database from Gustavus and Juneau south. |
Melica subulata | Alaska oniongrass | A 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 arundinacea | Reed Canarygrass | A few scattered collections from across the region. Many reports in AKEPIC from almost anywhere with roads or settlements. |
Phalaris canariensis | Annual Canarygrass | A 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 algida | Icegrass | Collections from the continental side of the coastal ranges north and east of the region. |
Phleum alpinum | Alpine Timothy | Probably throughout, but collections primarily from the northern mainland, and a few from the outer islands, with one from Admiralty Island. |
Phleum pratense | Timothy | A 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 alpina | Alpine Bluegrass | Tufted 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 annua | Annual Bluegrass | A few collections from across the region. Many reports in AKEPIC database from human impacted areas. |
Poa arctica | Arctic Bluegrass | Collections primarily from the northern mainland and northern-most islands. Also collected near Hyder and on Revillagigedo Island. |
Poa compressa | Canada Bluegrass | A 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 eminens | Large-flower Speargrass | Rhizomatous 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 glauca | Glaucous Bluegrass | Collections from the Stikine River and between Haines/Skagway and the BC border. |
Poa interior | Inland Bluegrass | Collections in ARCTOS from near Yakutat and on Chichagof Island. Field Guide to grasses indicates additional records from near Sitka and Juneau. |
Poa laxiflora | Looseflower Bluegrass | A few collections from the region, mostly from the central part (north/south-wise), but also from near Yakutat. |
Poa leptocoma | Bog Bluegrass | Scattered collections from across much of the region, mostly on the mainland. |
Poa macrantha | Seashore Bluegrass | Collected from Sea Lion Cove on Kruzof Island, and near Yakutat. |
Poa macrocalyx | Large-glume Bluegrass | Has 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 nemoralis | Wood Bluegrass | A single 1959 collection from the vicinity of Haines is the only one in ARCTOS of this species. See also Inland Bluegrass (Poa interior). |
Poa palustris | Fowl Bluegrass | Collections from across the region. |
Poa paucispicula | Alaska Bluegrass | Collections 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 pratensis | Kentucky Bluegrass | Collections 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 secunda | Pine Bluegrass | No collections from the region. Appears to be more continental (present on the interior side of the coast mountains in BC). |
Poa stenantha | Northern Bluegrass | Collections in ARCTOS from across most of the region, but more from the northern half. |
Poa trivialis | Rough Bluegrass | Few collections from the region. Reports in AKEPIC mostly from central and southern islands along road systems. |
Podagrostis aequivalvis | Northern Bentgrass | Quite a few collections from across the region other than the Northern Gulf Coast. (Present further west, so should be expected?) |
Podagrostis humilis | Alpine Bentgrass | Grass of wet meadows mostly in the alpine. A few scattered collections in ARCTOS from the region. |
Polypogon monspeliensis | Rabbitfoot Grass | A single 1946 collection from Juneau is the only record from the region. Probably not established in the region. |
Pseudoroegneria spicata | Bluebunch Wheatgrass | A 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 distans | Weeping Alkaligrass | No collections from the region, though e-Flora BC includes one from White Pass just north of the border. |
Puccinellia nutkaensis | Pacific Alkaligrass | Collections in ARCTOS from the length of the region, but only collected from the outer coast near Yakutat. |
Puccinellia nuttalliana | Nuttall's Alkaligrass | Although 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 phryganodes | Creeping Alkaligrass | No 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 pumila | Dwarf Alkaligrass | Only a few collections from the region, but overall distribution suggests it could be expected throughout in appropriate habitat. |
Schedonorus arundinaceus | Tall Fescue | A 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 pratensis | Meadow Fescue | No 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 purpurascens | False Melic | No collections from the region. Nearest records are from the Canadian side of the coast range. Also known from South Central Alaska. |
Torreyochloa pallida | Pale False Mannagrass | Collections in ARCTOS from across the region. |
Trisetum cernuum | Nodding Trisetum | Collections from throughout the region. |
Trisetum spicatum | Downy Oatgrass | Collections from across the region. |
Triticum aestivum | Bread wheat | A 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 atropurpurea | Mountain Hairgrass | Collections from throughout the region. |