Grasses Flashcards
Perennial bunchgrass
Auricles that clasp to the stem
Introduced, cool-season forage grass
Flattened, Spike-type inflorescence
Agropyron cristatum Crested Wheatgrass (POACEAE)
Annual grass, therefore is an invader in the traditional range condition systems (RCS)
Introduced from S. Europe and invasive
Very hairy
Panicle inflorescence densely branched and nodding
awns 1-2 cm in length
Bromus tectorum
Cheatgrass (POACEAE)
Perennial cool-season grass Introduced from Europe and, therefore, is an invader for traditional RCS Panicle-type inflorescence Strongly rhizomatous "W" on leaf
Bromus inermis
Smooth Brome
Compact, terminal inflorescence
3 ranked leaves
Leaves originate from base of plant
Larger Carex species have triangular stems
Carex spp.
Sedge (CYPERACEAE)
Colorado's state grass Perennial, native, warm-season decreases Panicle of unilateral spike branches spikelets on one side of branches Short rhizomes forming dense mats Hairy, curled leaves Ligule is a fringe of hairs
Bouteloua gracilis Blue grama (POACEAE)
Perennial, native bunchgrass Awns with flattened blade Large, papery glumes Yellowish-green leaves from base, frequently with dead tips Tufts of hairs at collar
Danthonia parry
Parry’s Oatgrass (POACEAE)
Perennial, native, bunchgrass
Spike inflorescence w/2 spikelets per node
Spikelets long-awned (5-15 cm; lemmas and gloms both awned; awns divergent (bent out) at maturity
Auricles present
Elymus elymoides
Squirreltail (POACEAE)
Perennial, native, cool-season grass Spike inflorescence Usually one spikelet per node Lemmas awned; 1-2 cm long; divergent (bent out) at maturity Auricles present
Elymus lanceolatus
Griffith’s Wheatgrass (POACEAE)
Perennial, native bunchgrass Cool-season decreases Very fine growth Leaves basal, rolled Yellowish-green Short awns
Festuca idahoensis
Idaho fescue
POACEAE
Perennial, native bunchgrass Very long (10-15 cm) awns Ligule 3-4 mm long, split conspicuous old flag leaf one floret per spikelet
Hesperostipa comet
needle-and-thread (POACEAE)
Round, unjointed stem Inflorescence part way up stem -Grows in areas with high water table -High silica content -Rhizomatous -Brown base
Juncus arcticus
rush (JUNCACEAE)
- Small, perennial, native bunchgrass
- Panicle inflorescence that opens and closes
- Fine hairs on leaves
- Feels soft
- Some basal leaves twisted
Koeleria macrantha
Junegrass
POACEAE
- Perennial, native, dioecious -Almost always under Pinus ponderosain area around Pingree
- Large grass with short rhizomes-Ligule 3-4 mm long and erose
- Bluish-green color
Leucopoa king
King fescue
POACEAE
- Perennial, native bunchgrass,frequently with dead centers
- Panicle inflorescence
- Long, prominent ligule
- Light green
- Very fine leaves-Awns short and irregularly bent
Muhlenbergia montana
Mountain muhly
POACEAE
- Synonym: Pascopyrum smithii
- Perennial, native, cool-season grass
- One spikelet per node
- Blue-green color
- Auricles that clasp the stem
- Awn-tipped florets
- Strongly rhizomatous, therefore asod-former
Elymus smithii
Western Wheatgrass
POACEAE
