Use PlantID.net to Learn About Grasses

By Bruce Homer-Smith

 

Here are the words we use to define grasses.  Read the related article if you’re unsure of any of them.

 

Grass Types	Bunch Grass, Single-Stem Grass,  Rush, Sedge
Grass Spikelets	Spikelet, Floret  Glume, Awn Lemma, Palea
Inflorescences	Branched,  Spike,  Spike-Like
Grass Leaves	Sheath, Collar, Ligule,  Blade, Inrolled

 

Steps to identify and learn about grasses.

 

The easiest way to identify and learn about a grass is to start from a specific location.  Within that context, you enter search criteria (e.g. tall perennial bunch grass with awns) and click [Search].  This will bring you to a Plant List where you can compare your possibilities.

 

1)  Choose “Grass Searches” from the PlantID.net home page.

2)   Choose a location to start the grass search process.

3)  Enter what you know about your grass on the Search Page and then click [Search].

4)  The Plant List will show grasses that meet your criteria in a new Compare Grasses view.  Click View to see grasses in other plant list formats.

 

5)  As you read about grasses, be sure to click links for terms you’re not sure of.

 

 

Grass Groups

If you want to think about grasses from the top down, check out these articles:

 

Sedges

Rushes

True Grasses

 

The goal here is to open your eyes to cool, new things to see in the field.

 

Have fun with it!

 

 

 

Corrections/Comments: bruce@PlantID.net Copyright: https://PlantID.net/Contributors.aspx