Poa arctica

R. Br.

Arctic Bluegrass

G5Secure Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.146185
Element CodePMPOA4Z080
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderCyperales
FamilyPoaceae
GenusPoa
Other Common Names
arctic bluegrass (EN) Pâturin arctique (FR)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Taxonomic Comments
FNA (vol. 24, 2007) expands the concept of Poa arctica by including P. tolmatchewii (= P. arctica ssp. caespitans) as a subspecies, while Kartesz (1994) treats it as distinct. FNA also expands the concept of Poa arctica ssp. arctica to include P. arctica ssp. williamsii and P. arctica ssp. longiculmis, while Kartesz (1994) treats them as distinct.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-05-16
Change Date1996-05-29
Edition Date1991-05-16
Edition AuthorsBUCKLEY,A
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Range Extent Comments
C or D. Range is uncertain because of difficult taxonomy. BC to Alberta; peripheral in WA, Okanogan and Jefferson (Olympic NF) cos.; in modified form in Cascades of WA and OR. Southward in Rocky Mnts. MT, WY, UT (UT plateau & Abajo Mnts), Co, n NM. Olympic Mts. plants may be P. gracillima or P. stenantha.
Occurrences Comments
Wide-ranging from CN to WA, MT, OR, WY, UT, CO.
Threat Impact Comments
UNKNOWN
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Mostly at or above timberline (2560-3960 m); alpine or subalpine; on scree, open ridges, meadows, streambanks.
Other Nations (2)
CanadaNNR
ProvinceRankNative
AlbertaS4Yes
ManitobaSNRYes
Yukon TerritorySNRYes
LabradorS3Yes
QuebecSNRYes
British ColumbiaS5Yes
SaskatchewanS2Yes
Northwest TerritoriesSNRYes
NunavutSNRYes
OntarioSNRYes
Island of NewfoundlandS1Yes
United StatesNNR
ProvinceRankNative
MontanaS4Yes
ColoradoS4Yes
OregonSNRYes
CaliforniaSNRYes
AlaskaSNRYes
NevadaS1Yes
WashingtonSNRYes
New MexicoSNRYes
UtahSNRYes
WyomingSNRYes
Plant Characteristics
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (2)
Montana (1)
AreaForestAcres
Crazy MountainGallatin National Forest82,093
New Mexico (1)
AreaForestAcres
Wheeler Peak WildernessCarson National Forest2,677
References (1)
  1. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.