Smooth Meadow-grass

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{{Taxobox | color = lightgreen | name = Smooth Meadow-grass | image = Veldbeemdgras Poa pratensis.jpg | image_width = 240px | regnum = Plantae | divisio = Magnoliophyta | classis = Liliopsida | ordo = Poales | familia = Poaceae | genus = Poa | species = P. pratensis | binomial = Poa pratensis | binomial_authority = L. }}

Smooth Meadow-grass (Poa pratensis) is a species of grass native to Europe, Asia and northern Africa.

Image:Veldbeemdgras Poa pratensis ligula.jpg It is a herbaceous perennial plant, growing to 30-70 cm tall, occasionally 90 cm. The leaves are narrow-linear, up to 20 cm long and 3-5 mm broad, smooth or slightly roughened, with a rounded to truncate ligule 1-2 mm long. The flower panicle is 10-20 cm long, conic, with the basal whorls of 3-5 branchlets; the spikelets are oval, green, 3-6 mm long, with 2-5 flowers.

Poa pratensis is the type species of the grass family Poaceae.

Cultivation and uses

Smooth Meadow-grass is a very important meadow plant, used extensively by grazing livestock like cattle and sheep. It has also become one of the most popular turf grasses in North America, where it has been re-named 'Kentucky Bluegrass'. This re-naming is not accepted within the species' native area.nl:Veldbeemdgras