rough-stalked meadow-grass, rough meadow-grass

Culms are 25-120 cm, decumbent to erect, sometimes trailing and rooting at the nodes, terete or weakly com-pressed; nodes are terete or slightly compressed, (0)1-3 exserted. Sheaths closed for about 1/3-1/2 their length, compressed, usually densely scabrous, bases of basal sheaths glabrous, distal sheath lengths 0.5-4 times blade lengths; collars smooth or scabrous, glabrous; ligules 3-10 mm, scabrous, acute to acuminate; blades 1-5 mm wide, flat, lax, soft, sparsely scabrous over the veins, margins scabrous, apices narrowly prow-shaped. Panicles 8-25 cm, erect or lax, pyramidal, open, with 35-100+ spikelets; nodes with 3-7 branches; branches 2-8(10) cm, ascending to spreading, flexuous to fairly straight, angled, angles densely scabrous, crowded, with 5-35 spikelets in the distal 1/2-3/4. Spikelets 2.3-3.5 mm, lengths to 3 times widths, laterally compressed; florets 2-4, bisexual; rachilla internodes smooth or muriculate. Glumes distinctly keeled, keels scabrous; lower glumes subulate to narrowly lanceolate, usually arched to sickle-shaped, 1-veined, distinctly shorter than the lowest lemmas; calluses webbed, hairs over 2/3 the lemma length; lemmas 2.3-3.5 mm, lanceolate, distinctly keeled, keels usually sparsely puberulent to 3/5 their length, marginal veins usually glabrous, infrequently the proximal 1/4 softly puberulent, intercostal regions smooth, glabrous, upper lemmas sometimes glabrous, lateral veins prominent, margins glabrous, apices acute; palea keels smooth, muriculate, tuberculate, or minutely scabrous; anthers 1.3-2 mm. 2n = 14.

Summary of species impacts derived from literature review. Click on an icon to find out more...

Socioeconomic	Beneficial

There is little or no evidence to support that Poa trivialis has significant socioeconomic impacts in the Great Lakes.
This species is managed as a nuisance in turfgrass (such as fairways and sports fields).

There is little or no evidence to support that Poa trivialis has significant beneficial impacts in the Great Lakes.
Poa trivialis is widely planted as a pasture grass. It is used for forage hay and pasturage in marshlands.

Note: Check federal, state/provincial, and local regulations for the most up-to-date information.

Control
Poa trivialis is used as a turf grass, often overseeded with Bermuda grass. Most research on management of this species focuses on promotion of the plants rather than control.  Its tendency to yellow in the heat of summer makes it undesirable in some turf applications, and most information on control is based on these applications.

Biological
Combining herbicides with overseeding an alternative desired grass will help discourage the regrowth of surviving P. trivialis and improve overall success of control (Morton and Reicher, 2007).

Chemical
Non selective control with glyphosate (Roundup) followed by reseeding has been the only option for control. A herbicide called sulfosulfuron (Certainty®) is currently being labeled by Monsanto for selective control of Poa trivialis in creeping bentgrass (Street & Sherratt 2013).

Other
This species has low tolerance for high temperatures and drought. 

Note: Check state/provincial and local regulations for the most up-to-date information regarding permits for control methods. Follow all label instructions.