Publication: Cat. Pl. 55. 1874.

Origin: Native

Herbarium search: CPNWH

Notes: FNA24: "Poa wheeleri is common at mid- to high elevations, generally on the east side of the coastal mountains from British Columbia to California, and from Manitoba to New Mexico. It generally grows in submesic coniferous forests to subalpine habitats. Most plants have densely retrorsely pubescent or scabrous sheaths, involute innovation blades that are pubescent adaxially, and pistillate florets.

Poa wheeleri, a high polyploid apomictic species, probably arose from hybridization between P. cusickii and another member of the Poa nervosa complex. It resembles P. rhizomata and P. chambersii more than P. nervosa sensu stricto. It differs from P. chambersii in having at least some proximal sheaths that are densely retrorsely scabrous or pubescent (sometimes obscurely so), and folded or involute innovation blades that are scabrous to hispidulous on the adaxial surfaces. For a comparison with P. nervosa, see description. Natural hybrids have been found between P. wheeleri and P. pratensis."

Last updated 12/14/2023 by David Giblin.