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Is Poa annua edible? #553150

Asked April 14, 2019, 4:05 AM EDT

Is Poa annua (annual blue grass) safe for humans to consume? In an extensive Google search, edibility is either not listed, or listed as "edibility unknown". The only source that lists Poa annua as edible is "The Wild Wisdom Of Weeds: 13 Essential Plants", a book by Katrina Blair, under her writings for grasses.

Lancaster County Pennsylvania

Expert Response

The closest I can come is a fact sheet published by the Global Invasive Species Database where Poa annua is described as "harmful organism, crop pest and potential seed contaminant'. It is not listed as toxic to humans. However, that does not mean it is safe for humans. It just means that it hasn't been identified as a plant containing a known poison. Most likely, it hasn't been tested and so its toxicity is unknown.



An Ask Extension Expert Replied April 19, 2019, 4:55 PM EDT
Thank you, Eileen E. It sounds like we've come to the same conclusion, and I really appreciate your researching this subject. I suppose there's a possibility of hydrogen cyanide  (prussic acid), since some grasses are known for that. I'll list it as "unknown, don't bother with it". Thank you!
The Question Asker Replied April 19, 2019, 9:27 PM EDT
That sounds like a good idea.
An Ask Extension Expert Replied April 20, 2019, 1:20 PM EDT

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