sign in sign up
<<
Home , Achnatherum nelsonii, Achnatherum richardsonii, Agropyron fragile, Agrostis exarata, Agrostis gigantea, Agrostis humilis

AN ILLUSTRATED KEY TO THE OF

Compiled and writen by Linda Kershaw & Lorna Allen

April 2019

© Linda J. Kershaw & Lorna Allen This key was compiled using informaton primarily from Moss (1983), Packer & Gould (2018), Douglas et. al. (2001) and Barkworth et. al. (2007). follows VASCAN (Brouillet, 2015). Please let us know if there are ways to improve the key. The 2015 S-ranks of rare (S1; S1S2; S2; S2S3; SU, according to ACIMS, 2017) are noted in superscript (S1;S2;SU) afer the species names. For more details go to the ACIMS web site. Similarly, exotc species are followed by a superscript X, XX if noxious and XXX if prohibited noxious (X; XX; XXX) in the Alberta Weed Control Act (2016). POACEAE Grass Family Key to Genera 01a with 2 fowers (→), one ♂+♀ foret at the tip and a sterile or ♂ foret below, spikelets detaching below the glumes (these shed with the forets), ± fattened on the back (at least when mature); a few species, mostly introduced ...... 02

→ 01b Spikelets not as above, 1- to many-fowered, → with sterile forets (if any) above the ♂+♀ forets or 3-fowered, the upper foret ♂+♀, the lower (side) two ♂ or sterile, usually (not always) breaking apart above the glumes (glumes left behind), usually fattened sideways; most AB species ...... 03

2a 02a Spikelets in pairs, one stalkless and ♂+♀, the other stalked and sterile; glumes leathery; palea thin and ± translucent ...... 1a ...... Schizachyrium scoparium 02b Spikelets not in pairs; glumes thin and ± translucent; palea thick, hardened . .Group 1 03a Spikelets with 2 ♂ or 2 sterile forets below a single ♂+♀ foret ...... 04 03b Spikelets not as above ...... 05 04a 10-60 cm tall; forets brown, the lower ones ♂ and ≥ in length to the upper (central) 4a ♂+♀ foret; moist to dry, open areas in lowland to alpine elevations ...... Anthoxanthum [Hierochloe] 04b Plants 30-150 cm tall; forets green or pale, the lower ones small sterile lemmas ≤2/3 as 4b long as the upper ♂+♀ foret; marshy ground, shorelines, roadsides and disturbed areas ...... Phalaris 05a Plants aquatic, annual, 100-300 cm tall; spikelets 1-fowered, either ♂ or ♀, with ♂ spikelets on lower branches and ♀on upper branches; 6; glumes absent . Zizania 05b Plants and spikelets not as above ...... 06 06a Stem sheaths closed for ≥½ their length; glumes usually shorter than upper forets . .07 06b Stem leaf sheaths closed for <½ their length; glumes shorter than to longer than the upper forets ...... 13

07a Spikelets 5-80 mm long, not producing bulbils; lemmas usually awned, often 2-lobed/toothed and with veins converging at the tip; ovary/ 5a grain tips hairy ...... 07b Spikelets 0.6-60 mm long, sometimes producing bulbils; lemmas usually unawned, 7a not both 2-lobed/toothed and with veins converging at the tip; ovary/grain tips usually hairless ...... 08

3 08a Lemma veins (4)5-15, usually prominent, parallel towards the tip; spikelets 2.5-60 mm long, not producing bulbils ...... 09 08b Lemma veins 1-9, often inconspicuous, converging towards the tip; spikelets 0.7- 9a 18(20) mm long, sometimes with bulbils. . .11 8a 18b 09a Floret bases (calluses) long-hairy; lemma awns 8-15 mm long, twisted, spreading to abruptly bent ... Schizachne purpurascens 09b Floret bases hairless; lemma awns 0-12 mm

long, straight (when present) ...... 10 → 10a Lower glume (→) 1-veined, 0.3-4.5 mm long; forets breaking off above the glumes; lemmas

unawned, with hairs 0-1 mm long; stems never → bulbous at the base; plants of wet meadows and shorelines ...... 10b Lower glume (→) 1- to 9-veined, 1-16 mm long; forets breaking off above or below the glumes; 10a 10b lemmas sometimes awned, sometimes with hairs >1 mm long; stems sometimes bulbous at the base; plants of drier, well-drained sites ...... Melica

11a 11a clusters loose, turned to one side (secund), with 1-10 cm long main branches bearing compact clumps of strongly overlapping, ± stalkless spikelets near their 12b tips; leaf tips fat .....Dactylis glomerata X 11b Flower clusters not turned to one side, with widely spaced to slightly overlapping, usually stalked spikelets; leaf tips mostly keeled (like the prow of a boat) ...... 12

12a 12a Lemmas prominently 3-nerved, squared and irregularly jagged-toothed at the tip; spikelets (1)2-fowered; plants 10-40(70) cm tall, in water or on very wet soil aquatica 12b Lemmas with 5-many, sometimes obscure nerves, ± pointed at the tip; spikelets 2- to several-fowered; plants of various habitats ...... (in part) 13a Spikelets ± stalkless, in spikes or elongating, spike-like clusters () ...... Group 2 13b Spikelets stalked, in open or compact, 13a 13b branched clusters (panicles), sometimes spike-like with spikelets arising all around the central stalk (neither obviously from one side nor in 2 opposite rows) ...... 14

14a Spikelets 1-fowered ...... Group 3 14b Spikelets 2- to many-fowered ...... 15 15a Glumes as long as the lowest foret, usually as long as the ...... Group 4 15a 15b Glumes shorter than the frst foret . .Group 5 14a 15b

4 GROUP 1 Spikelets 2-fowered, detaching below thin and ± translucent glumes; palea thick and hardened

→ 01a Spikelets with several long bristles (→) at the base ...... 01b Spikelets without bristles at the base .....02 02a Glumes and sterile lemmas awned or awn- pointed ...... 1a 02b Glumes and sterile lemmas awnless .....03 2a

3a 03a Spikelets short stalked, in slender spike- like clusters (racemes); ligules thin and ± translucent ...... Digitaria 4a 03b Spikelets long-stalked, in open, branched clusters (panicles); ligules rings of hairs ...04 04a Basal different from stem leaves, forming a winter rosette; second glume and sterile lemmas sparsely soft hairy...... 04b Basal leaves similar to stem leaves, not in 4b rosettes; second glume and sterile lemmas minutely stiff-hairy ...... Panicum ------GROUP 2 Spikelets ± stalkless, in spikes 01a Spikelets on 1 side of the central stalk (secund); spikes usually >1 ...... 02 01b Spikelets or spikelet clusters alternate or on opposite sides of the central stalk; spikes solitary ...... 05 02a Spikes comb-like, >4 mm long; perennial . .03 3a 02b Spikes not comb-like, ≤4 mm long; annual . 04 1a 1b 3b 03a Stems 20-40(50) cm tall; spikes 1-2(3); leaf- blades 1-2 mm wide; plants tufted with short rootstocks ...... Bouteloua 03b Stems (30)40-150 cm tall; spikes ≥4; leaf- blades 2-15 mm wide; plants spreading via long, strong creeping rootstocks () ...... [Spartina] 04a Spikelets round, ± 3 mm long; leaf-blades fat, 4b 5-10 mm wide, fresh green; stems stout, 30- 100 cm tall, green; marshy wetlands ...... 4a ...... syzigachne 04b Spikelets lance-shaped, ± 4 mm long; leaf- blades twisted, 1-2 mm wide, blue-green; stems slender, 20-40 cm tall, rose-colored with age; dry plains paniculata S2 [Schedonnardus paniculatus] 05a Spikelets 1 per joint on the central stalk (sometimes 2 in part of the spike in generic hybrids) ...... 06 05b Spikelets >1 per joint on the central stalk 5b (sometimes 1 in part of the spike in generic 5a hybrids) ...... 14

5 06a Spikelets attached edgewise to the central stalk; frst glume absent except in the tip spikelet ...... Lolium (in part) 06b Spikelets attached fatwise to the central stalk; glumes various ...... 07 07a Plants perennial (often with remnants from previous years at the base), mostly native, 8a usually with well-developed roots and/or rootstocks ...... 08 07b Plants annual, introduced, often weedy 6a 6b (including wheat and rye), usually with weak, fbrous roots ...... 12 08a Spikelets widely spreading from the central stalk, often almost horizontal, strongly overlapping, with segments between joints 9a usually <3 mm long ...... Agropyron 08b Spikelets not markedly spreading, usually ± erect or somewhat angled from the main stalk/ axis, not strongly overlapping, with segments 10a between joints 4-15+ mm ...... 09 09a Glumes lance-shaped, tapering from at or below the middle to a slender point, slightly curved to 1 side at the tip, 1- to 3-veined at mid-length,; plants with creeping rootstocks . . . Pascopyrum smithii [ smithii] 09b Glumes various, tapering from above the 11a middle to the tip, not curved to 1 side, 1- to 9-veined at mid-length; plants tufted or with creeping rootstocks...... 10 11b 12a 10a Glumes lance-shaped to rectangular, stiff, hard or leathery, smooth at the base of the keel, usually stiff-hairy at the tip, not awned ...... 10b Glumes sharply to long, slender pointed, fexible, usually smooth or stiff-hairy for the entire length of the keel, sometimes awned 11 11a Spikelets distant, not or scarcely reaching the base of the next spikelet above on the same side of the stalk; anthers 4-8 mm ...... [Agropyron spicatum] 11b Spikelets usually close, overlapping, reaching mid-length on the next spikelet above on the same side of the stalk; anthers 0.7-7 mm ...... (in part) 13a 12a Spikes 1-2 cm long triticeumX 12b Spikes 3-17 cm long ...... 13 13a Glumes egg-shaped, 3-nerved .....Triticum 13b Glumes awl-shaped, 1-nerved ...... cereale X 14a Spikelets 3 per joint, 1-fowered, the 2 side spikelets usually reduced to awns . 13b 14b Spikelets not usually 3 per joint, all alike, 2-6-fowered ...... 15

6 15a Glumes fat or with ≥3 veins at mid-length, if awl-shaped and 1-veined, then <4 mm or >18 mm long; anthers 1-9 mm long ...... Elymus (in part) 15b Glumes awl-shaped to narrowly lance-shaped, veinless or 1-veined at mid-length, 4-18 mm long; anthers 2.5-10 mm long ...... 16 14a 15a 16a Ligules 0.2-0.3 mm long; spikelets 2-3 per joint, breaking apart in the central stalk; plants tufted ...... juncea X [Elymus junceus] 16a 16b 16b Ligules 0.3-0.8 mm long; spikelets 1-7 per joint, breaking free above the glumes; plants tufted or with spreading rootstocks . .

Spikelets stalked, 1-fowered ------GROUP 3 01a Lemmas hardened, tightly enfolding the palea and /grain ...... 02 01b Lemmas not hardened, not closely enfolding

1a the palea and fruit/grain ...... 08 → 02a Awns 3-forked (→) ...... Aristida purpurea [Aristida longiseta] 2a 02b Awns simple ...... 03 03a Stem-leaf blades 8-12 mm wide; foret bases (calluses) 0.8-2 mm long, blunt tipped with a collar of soft hairs; lemmas hairy, at least at the base; mature forets plump; awns soon shed, 7-15 mm long; glumes 5-7.5 mm long, 6-10-veined ...... Oryzopsis asperifolia 03b Plants not as above ...... 04 04a Flower clusters (panicles) mostly 3-7.5 cm 3a long; foret bases 0.7-1.4 mm long (→); lemmas strongly inrolled, not lobed at the tip; paleas veinless, hairless ...... Nassella viridula [Stipa viridula] 4a 04b Flower clusters 6-32 cm long; foret bases 2-6 mm long (→); lemmas fat-edged, 1- to 2-lobed 5a at the tip; paleas 2-veined, hairy ...... 05 05a Floret bases 2-6 mm long, sharp-pointed; awns 5-22.5 cm long; glumes 15-45 mm long; forets 7-25 mm long ...... Hesperostipa ...... [Stipa, in part] 05b Floret bases 0.1-2 mm long, blunt or sharp- → pointed; awns <5 cm long; glumes 2.5-12 mm

long; forets 1.5-7 mm long ...... 06 → 06a Florets 1.5-2.5 mm long; glumes 2.5-6 mm long; awns 1-15 mm long, abruptly bent; fruit/ grain 1.2-2.5 mm long ...... Piptatheropsis [Piptatherum; Oryzopsis, in part] 06b Florets 3-7 mm long; glumes 5-12 mm long; fruit/grain 2-4 mm long ...... 07 6a 6b

7 07a Lemmas with silky, 2.5-6 mm-long hairs; awns 3-6 mm long, soon shed ...... Eriocoma hymenoides ...... [ hymenoides [Oryzopsis hymenoides] 07b Lemmas with <2 mm-long hairs (at least at the base); awns 15-45 mm long, persistent ...... Achnatherum [Stipa, in part] 08a Flower clusters loose, open with slender, mostly nodding branches; forets stalked; 7a lemmas ≈2-3 mm long; plants 60-120(200) cm 8a tall, in moist, usually wooded upland sites ...... latifolia 08b not as above ...... 09 09a Florets detaching below the glumes; fower clusters dense, spike-like ...... 10 09b Florets detaching above the glumes; fower 7b clusters various, sometimes spike-like ....11 10b 10a Glumes long-awned ...... 10a ...... monspeliensis X 10b Glumes awnless ...... 11a Ligules rings of hairs ...... Sporobolus 11b Ligules thin and ± translucent ...... 12 12a Glumes abruptly short-awned from rounded tips and with prominent fringed keels; fower clusters dense and spike-like ...... 11b 11a 12b Glumes not abruptly short-awned (if awned 12a at all), not fringed on the keel; fower clusters various, rarely spike-like ...... 13 13a Lemmas awn-tipped, short-pointed to abruptly sharp-pointed, <4 mm long ...... 13a ...... Muhlenbergia (in part) 13b Lemmas not awn-tipped, awnless or with an awn on the back ...... 14 14a Florets with long, stiff hairs from the base ...... 14a 14b Florets smooth or minutely hairy at base . .15 15a Glumes 3-nerved, shorter than the forets; paleas usually well-developed ...... 15a ...... latifolia [Arctagrostis arundinacea] 15b Glumes (3)5-nerved, longer than the forets; paleas often absent or poorly developed . .16

16a Plants alpine; glumes 1.6-2.3 mm long; anthers 0.4-0.8 mm long ..... Podagrostis humilis [ humilis; Agrostis thurberiana] 16b Plants of disturbed lowland habitats; glumes 1.6-3.2 mm long; anthers 0.9-1.4 mm long ...... Agrostis 16a 16b

8 GROUP 4 Spikelets stalked, 2+-fowered; glumes ≥ lowest foret 01a Spikelets 2-fowered, detaching below the glumes; glumes clearly dissimilar, the lower one <1/3 as wide as the upper; lemmas usually 1a stiff-hairy ...... Sphenopholis (in part) 01b Spikelets not as above ...... 02

2a 02a Lemma tips 2-lobed, with an abruptly bent awn between the lobes; ligules rings of hairs ...... 02b Lemmas and ligules not as above ...... 03 4a 5a 03a Spikelets nodding (pendulous) ...... 04 03b Spikelets erect or angled upwards ...... 05 04a Spikelets 2- to 3-fowered; lemmas 14-22 mm long, tapered to a pointed, often 2-lobed tip, some or all with a 1-4 cm long awn; glumes slender-pointed, 18-32 mm long, extending beyond the forets ...... 04b Spikelets 7- to 12-fowered; lemmas 6-8 mm long and nearly as wide, rounded at the tip, without awns; glumes broadly rounded, 5-7 mm long, much shorter than the spikelet .... 4b ...... Briza maxima X 7a 05a Florets with a tuft of stiff hairs at the base ...... Scolochloa festucacea (in part) 05b Florets without a tuft of stiff hairs at base . .06 06a Spikelets 3- to 11-fowered, (5)10-15 mm long ..07 06b Spikelets mostly 2-fowered, <10 mm long . 09 07a Lemmas 10-12 mm long, with a twisted, 8a abruptly bent awn attached to the back; glumes 9-14 mm long . Helictochloa hookeri [Avena hookeri, Avenula hookeri, Helictotrichon hookeri] 07b Lemmas 3-6.5 mm long, awnless or awned from the tip (not from the back); glumes (2)3- 8b 5.5(6.5) mm long...... 08 10a 08a Plants annual; stems 15-30 cm tall, single or in small tufts from fbrous roots...... Vulpia octofora (in part) 08b Plants perennial; stems 30-90 cm tall, in dense tufts from short rootstocks ...... hallii (in part) 09a Lemmas awned from below the middle, squared and irregularly toothed at the tip . .10 09b Lemmas awnless or awned from above the middle, pointed or 2-toothed at the tip ....11 10b 10a Leaf-blades fat, 3-6 mm wide, spikelets purple; awns ± 3 mm long ...... Vahlodea atropurpurea 10b Leaf-blades inrolled or folded, <3 mm wide; spikelets light brown to green, awns >3 mm long ......

9 11a Lemmas awned from the back, with abruptly bent awns ...... (in part) 11b Lemmas awnless or tipped with a short awn . 11a ...... 12 12a Glumes ≥ the length of the spikelet ...... Trisetum wolfi S2 12a 12b Glumes ± the length of the frst foret ...... macrantha (in part)

12b GROUP 5 Spikelets stalked, 2+-fowered; glumes < lowest foret ------01a Plants reed-like, 150-300 cm tall; fower clusters feathery, 10-40 cm long; spikelet stalks (rachillae) with hairs as long as the 1a lemmas ...... Phragmites 01b Plants smaller, rarely >120 cm tall; fowers not as above ...... 02 02a ♂ and ♀ fowers on separate plants; lemmas leathery; stems 10-40 cm long from creeping rootstocks in saline/alkaline soils ...... spicata [Distichlis stricta] 02b ♂ and ♀ fower parts on the same foret/ (except a few Poa spp. with soft-hairy lemmas) ...... 03 03a Plants matted annuals, mostly 3-15 cm tall, with leaves and spikelets crowded at the ends of naked stems; ligules rings of hairs; leaf 2a blades white-edged, spine-tipped ...... Munroa squarrosa 03b Plants not as above ...... 04 04a Spikelets 2-fowered, detaching below the 4a glumes; glumes markedly dissimilar, the lower one <1/3 as wide as the upper; lemmas usually stiff-hairy ...... Sphenopholis (in part) 04b Spikelets not as above ...... 05 3a 05a Lemmas prominently 3-nerved, with 3-5 pit- like glands on the mid-vein; spikelets 10- to 40-fowered ...... cilianensis X 5a [Eragrostis megastachya] 05b Lemmas with 5-many, sometimes obscure nerves; spikelets various ...... 06 06a Florets with a tuft of long, stiff hairs at the base ...... 07 06b Florets without long, stiff hairs at the base (may be cobwebby at base in Poa spp.). . .09

07a Lemmas without awns, pointed and often jagged at the tip; plants 70-200 cm tall, in wet habitats ...Scolochloa festucacea (in part) 07b Lemmas awned, usually 2-lobed at the tip; 7a plants 20-100 cm tall, in upland habitats . .08

10 08a Lemmas 5-6(7) mm long (excluding awns); fower clusters usually compact and spike-like (loose and open in rare species of sw-sc AB) ...... Trisetum (in part) 08b Lemmas ± 10 mm long (excluding awns); fower clusters loose and open ...... Ventenata dubia X 09a Lemmas with awns ≥1 mm long ...... 10 8b 8a 09b Lemmas awnless or awns <1 mm long ...12 10a 10a Plants annual, loosely tufted from fbrous roots ...... Vulpia octofora (in part) 10b Plants perennial, often with remnants from previous years’ growth and with well- developed roots or rootstocks...... 11 11a Lower leaves with slender lobes (auricles) at the base of the blade; leaves usually fat; plants 70-150 cm tall...... Lolium (in part) 11a 11b Lower leaves without ear-like lobes; leaves usually inrolled; plants smaller ...... Festuca (in part) 12a Flower clusters spike-like, with spikelets clumped on short, inconspicuous branches . . 12a ...... (in part) 12b Flower clusters open; spikelets not clumped ...... 13 13a Lemmas ≥7 mm long .....Festuca (in part) 13b Lemmas <7 mm long ...... 14

11b 14a Lemmas nerves parallel, not converging 13a towards the tip; tips broadly rounded or squared ...... 15 14b Lemma nerves converging towards the tip; tips 15b ± rounded to pointed or awn-tipped ...... 16 15a Lemmas nerves prominent; plants of non- saline/non-alkaline habitats ...... Torreyochloa pallida S1 [ paucifora] 15 Lemmas nerves obscure; plants of saline/ alkaline habitats (usually) ...... Puccinellia

16b 16a Lemmas usually <5 mm long; glumes keeled 15a (occasionally rounded); leaf tips usually keeled (like the prow of a boat) ...... Poa (in part) 16b Lemmas ≥5 mm long; glumes rounded on the back; leaf tips fat or narrowly inrolled...... Festuca (in part)

16a

11 ACHNATHERUM Needlegrass [Stipa, in part] 01a Spikelets nodding on zig-zag curving branches; lower glume 2-3 mm longer than the upper; awns 15-25 mm long; lemma tips often hairless ...... [Stipa richardsonii] 01b Spikelets angled upwards on straight branches; lower glumes ≤1 mm longer than the upper; awns 19-45 mm long; lemma tips 1a hairy ...... Achnatherum nelsonii 1b [Stipa columbiana; Stipa nelsonii] ------AGROPYRON* Wheatgrass 01a Spikelets widely spreading, attached <1 mm 1b apart; spikes 1.5-5(13) cm long, fattened and comb-like ...... X [Agropyron pectiniforme] 01b Spikelets spreading to angled upwards, attached >1 mm apart; spikes 6-10 cm long, ± cylindrical ...... X [Agropyron sibiricum] 1a *The Agropyron has undergone a major revision, and many species are now classifed as Elymus, Eremopyrum, Pascopyrum, ------Pseudoroegneria or Thinopyrum

2b AGROSTIS Bentgrass 01a Palea evident, ≥1/2 as long as the lemma; creeping rootstocks (rhizomes) or stems (stolons) 1a present; plants (20)30-100 cm tall ...... 02 01b Palea tiny or lacking, ≤1/3 as long as the 1b lemma; rhizomes/stolons absent; plants mostly <20 cm tall ...... 03 2a 4a 02a Creeping stems (stolons) and creeping root- stocks (rhizomes) present; fower clusters narrow, compact, lower branches 2-6 cm long ...... X 02b Creeping stems absent; creeping rootstocks present; fower clusters open, with lower branches 4-9 cm long . . Agrostis gigantea X 03a Flower clusters narrow, with branches angled upwards and at least some with spikelets to near the base ...... 04 03b Flower clusters open, with branches spreading 5b or down-turned at maturity and naked at the base ...... 05 5a 04a Stems >20 cm tall; leaf blades >1.5 mm wide; ligules 2-6 mm long...... Agrostis exarata 04b Stems mostly 10-20 cm tall; leaf blades <1.5 mm wide; ligules 1-2 mm long ...... Agrostis variabilis 05a Lemmas awned .....Agrostis mertensii S2 05b Lemmas awnless ...... Agrostis scabra 4b

12 ALOPECURUS Foxtail 01a Plants annual; anthers 0.3-0.9 mm long; awns abruptly bent, exceeding the lemmas by 1.6-4 mm ...... 01b Plants perennial; fowers not as above ....02 02a Spikelets densely woolly; fower clusters oblong or egg-shaped, ± 1 cm thick ...... 2a ... Alopecurus magellanicus [Alopecurus occidentalis; Alopecurus alpinus] 02b Spikelets not woolly; fower clusters linear or narrowly oblong, <1 cm thick ...... 03 1a 03a Awns straight, exceeding the lemmas by ≤1 mm; anthers 0.5-0.9 mm long ...... 03b Awns abruptly bent, exceeding the lemmas by 1.2-4 mm; anthers 1-2.4 mm long...... 04

3a 04a Glumes 1.9-3.5 mm long, blunt tipped; anthers (0.9)1.4-2.2 mm long ...... 4a ...... X 04b Glumes (3.6)4-6 mm long, with sharply pointed tips; anthers 2.2-3.5 mm long ...... 05 05a Flowering stems clumped in tussocks; leaf blades (2)4-8 mm wide; upper leaf sheaths not or scarcely infated; spikelets elliptic or oblong-egg-shaped; glume tips parallel or converging; lemmas 4-6 mm long, ± equal to glumes, pointed at the tip; awns 5-10.5 mm 5a 5b long, exceeding the lemmas by (1)2.2-5.5(6) mm ...... X 05b Flowering stems mostly single, growing from long rootstocks; leaf blades (3)8-12 mm wide; upper leaf sheaths ± infated; spikelets more or less urn-shaped; glume tips diverging; lemmas 3.1-4.5 mm long, shorter than the glumes, blunt or squared at the tip; awns 1.5-7.7 mm long, exceeding the lemmas by 0-3 mm ...... X ------

ANTHOXANTHUM Sweetgrass [Hierochloe] 01a Plants single or loosely tufted from creeping rootstocks; ligules 3-5 mm long, ± entirely membrane; lemma awns <1.1 mm long .... 1a ...... Anthoxanthum hirtum [Hierochloe hirta; Hierochloe odorata] 01b Plants tufted from short rootstocks; ligules ≤ 1 mm long, half membrane, half hairs; lemma awns >4 mm long . Anthoxanthum monticola [Hierochloe alpina] 1b

13 AVENA Oat 01a Lemma backs usually hairy, with a tuft of stiff hairs at the enlarged base; awns on all forets, 2-5 cm long, abruptly bent ... Avena fatua X 01b Lemmas hairless, neither enlarged nor hairy at the base; awns on the lowest foret only, 0-1.5 cm long, straight ...... Avena sativa X 1a 1b

------

BOUTELOUA Grama 01a Flower clusters with (10)40-70 spikes, each with <12 spikelets ....Bouteloua curtipendula S1 01b Flower clusters with 1-3 spikes, each with ≥25 spikelets ...... Bouteloua gracilis

1a

BROMUS Brome 1b 01a Plants 20-80(100) cm tall, slender, introduced ------annuals of disturbed habitats; leaves hairy . .02 01b Plants (20)80-150 cm tall, usually more robust, mostly native perennials of , woodland, moist meadows, (Bromus inermis & Bromus riparius introduced mosty on disturbed sites); leaves hairy or hairless ...... 08 02a Glumes slender, the lower one 1-nerved; lemmas narrow, tapered to a slender point, 3b tipped with 2-5 mm long teeth...... 03 02b Glumes broad, hairless, the lower one 3- to 5-nerved; lemmas broad, rounded at the tip 3a with very short (<2 mm long) teeth ...... 04 03a Lemmas 20-35 mm long; awns 35-60 mm long; lower glumes 13-20(22) mm long ...... Bromus diandrus X [Bromus rigidus] 03b Lemmas 9-12 mm long; awns 10-17 mm; lower glumes 4-6(9)) mm long XX 4a 04a Spikelets ± all longer than their stalks; fower clusters (panicles) crowded; lemmas prominently nerved . .Bromus hordeaceus X 5a [Bromus mollis] 04b Spikelets mostly shorter than th stalks; fower clusters open; lemma nerves inconspicuous . 05

05a Lemma edges inrolled at maturity; paleas ± equalling the lemmas; central stalk of spikelets visible ...... Bromus secalinus X 05b Lemma edges not inrolled; paleas much shorter than the lemmas; central stalk of spikelets concealed ...... 06

14 06a Awns straight, ± equal in length; anthers 0.7- 1.7 mm long ...... Bromus commutatus X 06b Awns spreading, the upper ones longer than the lower; anthers ± 1 mm long ...... 07 6a 07a Flower clusters ± turned to one side; spikelets 5-8 mm wide, infated; frst glume 5-nerved; 2nd glume faintly 7- to 9-nerved ...... Bromus squarrosus X 07b Flower clusters not turned to one side; spikelets <5 mm wide, not infated; frst glume 7a 3-nerved; 2nd glume 5-nerved ...... Bromus japonicus X 08a Spikelets strongly fattened; lemmas keeled; frst glume 3- to 5-nerved; second glume 5- to 9-nerved ...... Bromus sitchensis S2 [incl. Bromus aleutensis; Bromus carinatus; Bromus edgeatus; Bromus marginatus] 08b Spikelets rounded or ± fattened; lemmas 8a not keeled; frst glume 1-nerved; second glume 3-nerved (except B. porteri with frst (1)3-nerved and second (3)5-nerved) .....09 09a First glume mostly 3-nerved; second glume (3)5-nerved ...... Bromus porteri (in part) [Bromus anomalus] 09b First glume 1-nerved; 2nd glume 3-nerved .10 7b 10a Rhizomes present (short in Bromus riparius, so plants ± tufted); longest anthers 4-6 mm long; ligules 1.2-3 mm long ...... 11 10b Rhizomes absent; lemma awns >3 mm long; anthers 1.5-5 mm long; ligules 0.5-5 mm . .13 11a Awns (3)4-7 mm long; basal leaf sheaths readily decaying to netted fbres (appearing thatched); palea keels with hairs (cilia) on the upper 12/-2/3; leaf edges with robust hairs with distinctly widened bases . Bromus riparius X 11a 11a Awns 0-3(4) mm long; basal leaf sheaths decaying into straight fbres; palea keels with hairs (cilia) on the lower 3/4 to entire length; 9a leaf edges hairless or with weaker hairs without thickened bases ...... 12 12a Lemmas hairless (or a few short hairs at base or edges); awns 0-3 mm long; stem joints, leaf blades and sheaths usually hairless ...... Bromus inermis X [Bromus inermis ssp. inermis] 12b Lemmas hairy on the back, base and/or edges, outer nerves and keel; awns 0-7.5 mm 12a long; stem joints and leaf blades usually hairy; sheaths (at least lower ones) soft-hairy, often purplish at the base .Bromus pumpellianus [Bromus inermis ssp. pumpellianus]

12b

15 13a Lemmas unevenly hairy on the back, usually more densely hairy on the lower edge ....14 13b Lemmas more evenly hairy on back, but the upper part hairless ...... 16 14a Lower lemmas ± 2 mm wide; awns usually >5 15a mm long; ligules 3-5 mm long; anthers 3-5 mm long ...... Bromus vulgaris 14b Lower lemmas ± 3 mm wide; awns 3-5 mm long; ligules 1 mm long; anthers 1-2.7 mm 15b long ...... 15 15a Backs of lemmas hairless; anthers 1-1.4 mm 14a long; upper glumes 7-8.5 mm long; throughout much of AB ...... Bromus ciliatus 15b Backs of the upper lemmas in a spikelet hairy; anthers 1.6-2.7 mm long; upper glumes 8.9-11.3 mm long; at montane to subalpine elevations in the cordillera and Cypress Hills ...... Bromus richardsonii 16a Leaf blades mostly 2-4 mm wide, without ear- like lobes (auricles) at base; fower clusters egg-shaped, nodding, 7-15 cm long; frst glume 3-nerved ... Bromus porteri (in part) [Bromus anomalus] 16b 16b Leaf blades mostly >5 mm wide, with ear-like lobes at base; fower clusters pyramidal, 12-20 16a cm long; frst glume 1-nerved ...... Bromus latiglumis S1 [Bromus altissimus] ------CALAMAGROSTIS Reedgrass 01a Basal (callus) hairs >1.3X as long as lemmas; lemmas ≥2 mm shorter than glumes and long, slender pointed . . Calamagrostis epigeios X 1a 01a Callus hairs usually <1.2X as long as lemmas; if >lemmas then <2 mm shorter than glumes and not slender pointed ...... 02 02a Lemma awns abruptly bent, projecting out from the spikelets; foret basal hairs usually much shorter than the lemmas ...... 03 02b Lemma awns ± straight, enclosed in the spikelets; foret basal hairs ± equalling the 3a lemmas ...... 05 03a Awns much longer than the glumes; plants tufted, sometimes with short rootstocks ...... Calamagrostis purpurascens 03b Awns ± equalling the glumes; plants various 04 04a Plants with long, creeping rootstocks, not tufted; upper stems (below fower clusters) rough-to-touch with stiff hairs; glumes sharply 4a 4b keeled; spikelets strongly fattened; leaves hairless at the sheath-blade junction ...... Calamagrostis montanensis 04b Plants tufted, with short rootstocks; upper stems smooth; glumes not strongly keeled; spikelets not fattened; leaves often densely hairy at the sheath-blade junction ...... Calamagrostis rubescens

16 05a Flower clusters ± loose and open; foret basal hairs as long as the lemmas and of equal or unequal length ...... 06 05b Flower clusters ± compact; basal hairs mostly shorter than lemmas and unequal in length . 07 06a Leaves rough-to-touch with stiff hairs above and below; fower clusters ≥2 cm wide; glumes stiff-hairy on the keel; foret basal hairs ± equal in length except for a short outer ring ...... Calamagrostis canadensis 06b Leaves rough-to-touch above, smooth below; fower clusters <2 cm wide; glumes scarcely stiff-hairy on the keel; foret basal hairs of varying lengths ...... Calamagrostis lapponica S2 (in part) 6a 07a Glumes usually <3X longer than wide, brown 6b; 7b 7a tipped; awns usually stout and much coarser than the foret basal hairs ...... Calamagrostis stricta ------[incl. Calamagrostis inexpansa] 07b Glumes usually >3X longer than wide, purple tipped; awns usually slender and similar to the foret basal hairs ...... Calamagrostis lapponica S2 (in part)

DANTHONIA Oatgrass 01a Flower clusters with 1(2-3) spikelet; ligule hairs usually 3-4 mm long ...... 2a ...... Danthonia unispicata 01b Flower clusters with 2-several spikelets; ligule hairs usually <3 mm long ...... 02 1a 02a Bases of the middle forets ± as long as wide, convex on the outer side; lemma bodies 2.5-6 mm long, soft hairy on the back; glumes 9-12 mm long ...... Danthonia spicata 02b Bases of the middle forets longer than wide, concave on the outer side; lemma bodies 3-11 mm long, mostly ± hairless on the back (soft- hairy in D. parryi); glumes 13-22 mm long .03 3a 4a 03a Flower clusters narrow, with stiff, erect lower branches; spikelets ≥ the length of their stalks; leaf sheaths usually hairless ...... 03b Flower clusters open, with fexible, spreading branches; spikelets ≤ the length of their stalks (sometimes longer in D. parryi)...... 04 04a Upper stem leaves usually strongly spreading or bent back/down; spikelets usually much shorter than their stalks; lemmas hairless to sparsely hairy on the back; mature stems breaking at the joints ...... 04b Upper stem leaves usually erect of angled 4b upwards; spikelets ± equalling to slightly longer than their stalks; lemmas silky hairy on the back (at least near the base); mature stems not breaking at the joints ...... Danthonia parryi

17 DESCHAMPSIA Hairgrass 01a Flower clusters narrow, spike-like; leaves mostly thread-like, 1-1.5 mm wide ...... S2 01b Flower clusters open, with spreading to down- curved branches; leaves 1.5-3(4) mm wide ......

DICHANTHELIUM Panicgrass [Panicum, in part] 01a Basal leaves similar to stem leaves, angled upwards or spreading; stem leaves 2-4; mature stems branched from near the base, with only the upper 2-4 segments elongated; 1a 1b cAB Parkland and neAB Athabasca Plains...... Dichanthelium wilcoxianum S2 ------[Panicum wilcoxianum] 01b Basal leaves distinctly different from stem leaves, egg- to lance-shaped, spreading in a basal rosette; stem leaves 3-14; mature stems branched from the middle, with all segments usually elongated ...... 02 02a Ligules thin and ± translucent at the base, fringed with hairs at the top; stems from slender rootstocks <2 mm thick; stem leaves 5-40 mm 1a wide, often with a notched base; lower forets 2a often ♂; Dry Mixedwood along the river near Edmonton ...... Dichanthelium leibergii S1 [Panicum leibergii] 02b Ligules rings of hairs; stems from short, thick bases (caudices); stem leaves 1-18 mm wide, with tapered, squared or rounded bases (rarely notched); lower forets sterile ...... 02 03a Ligules 1-1.5 mm long; spikelets 2.4-3.2 mm 3b long, swollen; upper glumes prominently veined, usually with and orange or purple spot at the base, prominently veined; Dry Mixedwood near Edmonton ...... Dichanthelium oligosanthes S1 [Panicum scribnerianum] 03b Ligules 2.5-5 mm; spikelets 1.6-1.8 cm long, 3a not swollen; upper glumes without an orange or purple spot, not prominently veined ....04 04a Plants restricted to geothermal soils; Banff ------Hotsprings. . . . . Dichanthelium thermale SH [Dichanthelium acuminatum var. thermale; . . Panicum thermale; Panicum ferventicola] 04b Plants never in geothermal sites; Athabasca Plains .... Dichanthelium lanuginosum S2 [Dichanthelium acuminatum var. fasciculatum; Panicum lanuginosum; Panicum brodiei]

DIGITARIA Crabgrass 01a Second (upper) glume ≈ spikelet length; leaves hairless .... Digitaria ischaemum X 01b Second glume ≈1/2 spikelet length; leaves 1a 1b sparsely soft hairy .. Digitaria sanguinalis X

18 ECHINOCHLOA Barnyardgrass 01a Second glume and sterile lemma mostly with stout, warty-based hairs on veins; fertile lemmas abruptly narrowed to a thin, ± translucent tip with a line of tiny hairs at the base and tipped with an awn; c-sAB ...... Echinochloa crus-galli X 01b Second glume and sterile lemma stiff-hairy to ± hairless but hairs rarely stout with warty bases; fertile lemmas tapered to a frm, slender, persistent point tipped with an awn; Edmonton area and Brooks/Taber area ...... Echinochloa muricata S1 1a 1b

------ELYMUS Wildrye 01a Spikelets 1 per joint (rarely 2 at lowest joints) [Agropyron]; lemmas awned or not ...... 02 01b Spikelets >1 per joint; lemmas awned ....09 02a Anthers (2.5)3-7 mm long; plants often forming colonies with single stems from creeping 1b rootstocks ...... 03 02b Anthers 0.7-3 mm long; plants tufted, with short or no rootstocks ...... 06 1a 03a Lemmas with at least some strongly spreading/ donw-curved awns ...... Elymus albicans [Agropyron albicans] 03b Lemmas awnless or with straight or slightly curved awns ...... 04 04a Glumes stiff-hairy at the tip only, keeled and rough to touch at the tip; lemmas hairless ... X 3a ...... [Agropyron repens; repens] 5a 04b Glumes stiff-hairy their entire length or hairless; lemmas hairless or with coarse, stiff hairs .05 05a Stems 1-few, from long creeping rootstocks; leaves 2-5 mm wide, often stiff and inrolled; 4a spikes 0.5-1 cm wide, with joints 3.5-15 mm apart; glumes 5-9 mm, 1/2-3/4 X as long as the frst lemma ...... [Agropyron dasystachyum] (in part) 05b Stems tufted from short rootstocks; leaves fat, 5-12 mm wide; spikes 0.5-2 cm wide, joints 4-8(12) mm apart; glumes 1/2-1X as long as frst lemma ...... (in part)

5b 06a Stems tufted, 10-40 cm tall, sprawling to spreading at the base; creeping rootstocks absent; glumes 4-7 mm long, with spreading awns; spikes breaking apart along the main stalk/axis at maturity, so spikelets shed intact; alpine habitats...... S2 [Agropyron scribneri] 06b Stems tufted or not, 20-150 cm tall, usually angled upwards or erect; creeping rootstocks often present; glumes 7-15 mm long, awns 0-6 6a mm long; forets shed from above glumes; low elevation to subalpine habitats ...... 07

19 07a Plants 20-50(75) cm tall; glumes 3(5)-veined; glume margins unequal, 0.3-1 mm wide at the widest part of the upper 1/3 of the glume; awns 0.5-3 mm long; anthers 0.7-1.3 mm long .... Elymus violaceus [Agropyron violaceum] 07b Plants (30)50-150 cm tall; glumes 3-7 veined; 8a 8b glume margins equal, 0.1-0.5 mm wide at the widest part ± at the middle of the glume; awns 0-40 mm long; anthers 1.2-2.5(3) mm long .08 08a Glumes 1.8-2.3 mm wide, edges 0.2-0.3 mm 7a wide; spikes 0.4-1 cm wide ...... [Agropyron trachycaulum] (in part) 08b Glumes 0.4-1.5(2) mm wide, with edges 0.1- 0.2 mm wide; spikes 0.2-2 cm wide ...... Elymus glaucus (in part) 09a Spikes breaking apart at maturity ...... 10 09b Spikes not breaking apart at maturity, main stalk remaining after spikelets are shed ...11 10a Stems 50-100 cm long; spikes 4-13 x 0.5-2 cm (including awns); lemma awns 10-20 mm long ...... x Elyhordeum macounii [Agropyron macounii; Elymus macounii] 10b Stems 10-50(65) cm long; spikes 3-20 5-15 10a x 10b cm (with awns); lemma awns 25-100 mm long . S2S3 [Sitanion hystrix] 11a Lobes at the base of the leaf blade (auricles) usually absent, if present, brown and ≤1.8 mm long; spikelets 10-15 mm long; lemmas 6-10 mm long; paleas 5-9 mm long ...... 12 11b Auricles usually present, often purplish, 1.5- 4 mm long; spikelets 8-25 mm long; lemmas 8-16 mm long; paleas 8-13 mm long .....13 12a Awns 0.5-3(4) mm long at mid-spike; upper leaves usually pointing upward and somewhat inrolled; lower leaves shorter, narrower and senescing earlier than the upper leaves ...... Elymus curvatus 12b Awns 5-15(20) mm long at mid-spike; leaf 12b blades fat, lax and spreading; lower leaves 12a similar to the upper in size and persistence ...... 13a Spikes usually curved, nodding, 3-7 cm wide; awns curved, spreading; glumes ± cylindrical at the base, tipped with (5)8-25(27) mm awns; lemma awns divergent, 20-35(40) mm long; stem joints usually concealed by sheaths; lobes at the base of the leaf blade (auricles) 1.5-4 mm long ...... 13b Spikes erect and stiff, 0.5-2 cm wide; awns mostly straight; glumes fattened at the base 13b with thin and semi-transparent edges, tipped with (0.5)1-5(9) mm awns; lemma awns straight 13a (rarely divergent), (5)10-30(35) mm long; stem joints usually exposed; auricles ≤2.5 mm long ...... Elymus glaucus (in part)

20 FESTUCA Fescue 01a Leaf blades fat, soft and lax, mostly >3 mm wide; fower cluster branches lax, spreading, sometimes bent back/down ...... 02 01b Leaf blades various, mostly inrolled and <3 mm wide; fower cluster branches erect or angled upwards, often pressed to the central 2a stalk ...... 03

2b 02a Leaves 4-10 mm wide; lemma awns (0)1.5- 20 mm long; lower glumes 1.8-4 mm long; anthers 1.5-2.8 mm. . . .Festuca subulata S1 02b Leaves (1)2.5-4 mm wide; lemma awns 0.2- 0.7 mm long; lower glumes 4-8.3 mm long; anthers 2.6-5 mm . . (in part) 03a Spikes with vegetative bulblets replacing some forets (viviparous); alpine sites in Waterton Lakes NP ...... Festuca viviparoidea S1 03b Spikes not viviparous ...... 04 04a Creeping rootstocks usually present; new basal offshoots mostly sprawling; leaf sheaths reddish, shredding/fbrous with age ...... Festuca rubra 3a 04b Creeping rootstocks absent, plants tufted; new basal offshoots strongly angled upwards; leaf 4a sheaths papery, persistent, not shredding/ fbrous with age...... 05 05a Glumes ± as long as the upper forets; lemma awns (0)0.5-1.3 mm long; anthers 4-6 mm long ...... Festuca hallii [Festuca scabrella, in part] 5a 7a 05b Glumes clearly shorter than upper forets; lemma awns various; anthers 0.3-6 mm long ...... 06 06a Lemmas awnless, abruptly pointed or with awns ≤3.5 mm long, if awned, then with callus- thickened veins on upper leaf surface ....07 06b Lemmas with awns 0.3-12 mm long; leaves without callus-thickened veins ...... 08 07a Panicle branches erect to stiffy spreading; lower glumes ≤ adjacent lemma length; anthers (3.3)4.5-6 mm long; lemma backs rounded at the base, obscurely veined ...... Festuca campestris [Festuca scabrella, in part] 07b Panicle branches lax, loosely erect to down- curved; lower glumes distinctly < the adjacent lemma length; anthers 2.6-4.5(5) mm long; 8a lemmas keeled at the base, with 5 prominent veins ...... Festuca altaica (in part)

7b 08a Ovary tips densely and conspicuously hairy; dry, wooded slopes in the Waterton area, sw AB ...... Festuca occidentalis S2 08b Ovary tips hairless (some alpine species with a few scattered hairs); anthers various ....09

21 09a Anthers (1.8)2-4.5 mm long; lowland species introduced and spreading from cultivation (except ) ...... 10 09b Anthers 0.3-1.8(2) mm long; native alpine 11a species (except ) ...... 13 10a Outer side of leaves with thick-walled, supporting cells (sclerenchyma) in continuous or interrupted bands; blades with 1-3(5) indistinct ribs ..... Festuca ovina (in part) X 10b Outer side of leaves with sclerenchyma in separate strands or in a continuous band; 10a 14a blades with 1-9 indistinct ribs ...... 11 11a Sclerenchyma on the outer side of the leaves usually restricted to the midvein and edges; 12b blades with 1-5, well-defned ribs ...... Festuca valesiaca X 11b Sclerenchyma on the outer side of leaves in 5-7 strands of continuous or interrupted bands; 13a blades with (1)3-9, well-defned ribs ...... 12 12a Lemmas 3.8-5.5 mm long; lemma awns 0.5- 2.5 mm, ≤1/2 as long as the body; spikelets 7-7.5 mm long .....Festuca trachyphylla X 12b Lemmas 5-10 mm long; lemma awns 2-6 mm long, mostly >1/2 as long as the body; spikelets 10-13 mm long Festuca idahoensis 13a Stems densely hairy below the fower cluster; fower clusters egg-shaped, often ± turned to one side ...... Festuca baffnensis 13b Stems ± hairless below the fower cluster; 12a fower clusters narrow ...... 14 14a Anthers 2-2.5 mm long; plants introduced and persisting from cultivation; thick-walled, supporting cells (sclerenchyma) on the lower/ outer side of the leaves in a continuous band ...... Festuca ovina (in part) X 14b Anthers 0.4-1.7(2) mm long; native species of alpine slopes, and open woods; sclerenchyma on the lower/outer side of the 16a leaves in 3 separate to merging strands (rarely a continuous band) ...... 15

15a 15a Flower clusters usually 3-10(13) cm long; spikelets mostly 4.5-8.8(10) mm long ...... 15b Flower clusters 1-5.5 cm long; spikelets mostly 2.5-7(8.5) mm long ...... 16

16a Ovaries hairless; lemmas 2.5-4.5(6) mm long; spikelets 2.5-7(8.5) mm long ...... Festuca brachyphylla 16b Ovaries minutely hairy at the tip (30X lens); lemmas 2-3.5(4) mm long; spikelets 2.5-5 mm long ...... Festuca minutifora S2 16b

22 GLYCERIA Mannagrass 01a Flower clusters narrow, erect; spikelets linear, ± cylindrical, 10-12(15) mm long ...... Glyceria borealis 01b Flower clusters mostly broad, nodding; 1a spikelets egg-shaped or oblong, ± fattened, 2-7 mm long ...... 02 3a 02a First glume usually ≤1 mm long ...... 03 02b First glume usually ± 1.5 mm long ...... 04 03a Leaf-blades mostly 2-4 mm wide; lower ligules 1.5-3 mm long; frst glume 0.5-0.8 mm long; lemmas 1.4-2.1 mm long ... 03b Leaf-blades mostly 4-10 mm wide; lower ligules 3-6 mm long; frst glume ± 1 mm long; lemmas 2.0-2.5 mm long .... Glyceria elata

3b 4a 04a Plants 100-150(200) cm tall with 20-40 cm long fower clusters; lemma tips ± fat; glumes sharp-pointed, 1 or both with the midvein extending to the tip ...... Glyceria grandis 04b Plants 40-60(100) cm tall with 15-22 cm long fower clusters; lemma tips prow-shaped with broad, dry, translucent edges; glumes usually blunt-tipped, with veins not reaching the tip ...... Glyceria pulchella

4b ------HESPEROSTIPA Needle-and-thread [Stipa, in part] 01a Lemmas evenly white hairy (sometimes 2a hairless just above the base), 8-15 mm long; awns slender, curved, not distinctly bent; glumes 16-35 mm long; ligules of lowest leaves 1-6.5 mm long, often irregularly torn ...... Hesperostipa comata [Stipa comata] 01b Lemmas unevenly brown or beige hairy at the base and edges, 7-18 mm long; awns stiff and abruptly bent; glumes 15-45 mm long; ligules of lowest leaves 0.2-3 mm long, not irregularly torn ...... 02 02a Florets 15-25 mm long; lemma-awns 90-190 2b mm long; glumes 22-45 mm long; lower joints usually with lines of hairs ...... [Stipa spartea] 02b Florets 8.5-14(17) mm long; lemma-awns 50- 105 mm long; glumes 15-30 mm long; lower 1a stem joints hairless (usually) or evenly hairy . ..Hesperostipa curtiseta [Stipa curtiseta]

23 HORDEUM 01a Leaf blades with conspicuous slender lobes at 2b the base ...... 02 01b Leaf blades without conspicuous slender lobes 2a at the base ...... 03 02a Glumes edged with comb-like hairs (at least in the centre spikelet); spikes breaking apart at maturity ...... Hordeum murinum X [Hordeum glaucum] 02b Glumes not edged with comb-like hairs; spikes not breaking apart at maturity ...... 3a ...... Hordeum vulgare X 03a Plants annual; glumes varied, some hair-like, others 0.8-1.8 mm wide ...... Hordeum pusillum SH 03b Plants perennial, glumes all hair-like .....04 4b 04a Glumes 1.5-8.5 mm long, bent and spreading at maturity ...... Hordeum jubatum 04b Glumes 0.7-1.9 mm long, usually straight, not spreading at maturity ...... Hordeum brachyantherum

4a

------LEYMUS Lymegrass 01a Glumes lance-shaped, usually 2-4 mm wide, with 3(5) distinct nerves at mid-length, fexible, the centre scarcely thicker than the edges; plants with creeping rootstocks, on sand dunes and shores along Lake Athabasca ...... S1 [Elymus mollis] 01b Glumes awl-shaped to narrowly lance- 1a shaped, usually 0.5-2.5 mm wide, with 0-1(3) 1b inconspicuous nerve at mid-length, the centre thicker than the edges; plants tufted or with creeping rootstocks, not on dunes and shores ...... 02 2a 02a Ligules 0.1-0.5 mm long; lemmas covered in long (0.7-3 mm) hairs; glumes 5-12 mm long; anthers 7-10.5 mm long; spikelets usually 2 per joint ...... [Elymus innovatus] 02b Ligules 2-8 mm long; lemmas hairless or with a few short (<0.5 mm) hairs; glumes 8-18 mm long; anthers 4-7 mm long; spikelets (2)3-7 per joint .... [Elymus piperi]

2b

24 LOLIUM Ryegrass 01a Spikelets stalked, each with 2 glumes, in open or compact branched clusters (panicles) . .02 2b 01b Spikelets ± stalkless, all but the uppermost with 1 glume, in spikes ...... 03 02a Lobes at the base of the leaf blades (auricles) fringed with hairs (sometimes very sparse, 2a 1a 1b check a few); lowest panicle branches usually in 2s, the shorter with 1-13 spikelets; lemma awns (0)0.2-4 mm long ...... Lolium arundinaceum X [Schedonorus arundinaceus; Festuca arundinacea] 02b Auricles hairless; lowest panicle branches usually single, if 2 then the shorter with 1-3 spikelets; lemma awns 0-0.2 mm long ...... X 4a ...Lolium pratense [Festuca pratensis; Schedonorus pratensis] 03a Glumes shorter than the forets ...... 04 03b Glumes (at least in some spikelets) ≥ the 4b forets ...... 05 04a Plants perennial, in small tufts from spreading rootstocks; forets 2-10 per spikelet; lemma awns 0(1-8) mm long; leaves (1)2-4(6) mm wide ...... X 04b Plants annual or short-lived perennial, in tufts from fbrous roots; forets 10-22 per spikelet; lemma awns (0)1-15 mm long; leaves (2)3- 8(13) mm wide ...... Lolium multiforum X [Lolium perenne ssp. multiforum] 05a Lemmas (3.5)6-8(8.5) mm long; paleas mostly shorter than lemmas; mature forets/grains 5a plump, 2-3X longer than wide; leaves 3-10 mm X 5b wide ...... Lolium temulentum 05b Lemmas (5.2)9-10(12) mm long; paleas mostly ≥lemmas; mature forets/grains slender, 3.7- 5X longer than wide; leaves 2-4 mm wide ... X ------...... Lolium persicum

MELICA Oniongrass 01a Lemmas awned; plants not bulbous at the 1a base ...... Melica smithii S2 01b Lemmas not awned; plants mostly bulbous at the base ...... 02

02a Lemmas narrow, tapered to a long, slender point, hairy on the veins; lower glumes narrow, obscurely 3-veined ..... Melica subulata S2 02b Lemmas broad, sharp-pointed or blunt-tipped, hairless; lower glumes broad and papery, 2a prominently 3-veined . Melica spectabilis S2 2b

25 MUHLENBERGIA Muhly 01a Spikelets ± stalkless, in spikes or spike-like 1a racemes, fat-lying along 2 sides of 3-sided branches/stalks Muhlenbergia paniculata S2 [Schedonnardus paniculatus] 01b Spikelets stalked, in branched clusters (panicles), sometimes in narrow, spike-like 2a clusters with spikelets attached all around the central stalk (not lying fat in a row) ...... 02 02a Flower clusters open, 4-12(20) cm wide with hair-like branches 0.05-0.1 mm thick, spreading at 30-100˚ from the main stalk at maturity; spikelets on long slender stalks .... 4a ...... Muhlenbergia asperifolia 4b 02b Flower clusters narrow, spike-like, 0.1-2(3) cm wide with branches >0.1 mm thick, pressed to the stem or spreading at <30˚(40˚) from the main stalk at maturity; spikelets on short stalks ...... 03 03a Glumes with awns much exceeding the lemmas; fower clusters usually dense, 0.5-1.5 cm wide ...... 04 03b Glumes with awns ≤ the lemmas; fower clusters very slender, with short fat-lying branches ...... 05 04a Stems short-hairy and dull between the joints, cylindrical, rarely branched above the base; ligules 0.2-0.6 mm long; anthers 0.8-1.5 mm long ...... Muhlenbergia glomerata 5a 04b Stems smooth and shiny between the joints, ± fattened, much branched above the base; ligules 0.6-1.7 mm long; anthers 0.4-0.8 mm 5b long ...... Muhlenbergia racemosa 05a Leaves 0.2-2(2.6) mm wide, fat, inrolled or folded at maturity; ligules ≤0.5 mm long; plants tufted, from a frm, knotted base; glumes lance-awl-shaped, mostly 2-2.5 mm long ...... Muhlenbergia cuspidata 05b Leaves (1.5)2-15 mm wide, fat at maturity; ------ligules 1-3 mm long; plants forming mats from creeping rootstocks; glumes egg-Iance- shaped, 1-1.5 mm long ...... Muhlenbergia richardsonis

PANICUM Panicgrass 01a Flower clusters spreading to nodding; spikelets 1.4-4 mm long ...... Panicum capillare X 01b Flower clusters erect; spikelets 4-6.5 mm long ...... Panicum miliaceum X

1a

1b 26 PHALARIS* Canarygrass 01a Plants annual, ± 30-80 cm tall; fower clusters egg-shaped, dense, 1.5-4 cm long ...... Phalaris canariensis X 01b Plants perennial, mostly 60-150 cm tall; fower clusters cylindric, 6-18 cm long...... Phalaris arundinacea (X*)

*Native and non-native populations of P. arundinacea grow in Alberta. European 1a and Asian varieties were brought to for agriculture. Native populations 1b without exposure to gene fow from non-native strains are increasingly rare, and it is nearly impossible to distinguish native and non- native populations. Native plants are smaller, often with small purple tinged heads and with practically all stems fowering; they tend to form sparse stands. Non-native plants have larger seed heads with a greenish tinge and ------can out-compete native plants to form dense monocultures.)

PHLEUM 01a Upper leaf sheaths infated; fower clusters egg-shaped or short-cylindric, usually (1)1.5- 3(6) cm long, usually 1.5-3X as long as wide; awns of glumes 1.5-2.5(3) mm long; stem bases not bulbous...... Phleum alpinum [Phleum commutatum] 1b 01b Leaf sheaths not infated; fower clusters cylindric, (2)5-10(17) cm long, usually 5-20X 1a as long as wide; awns of glumes 1-1.5(2) mm long; stem bases enlarged or bulbous ...... Phleum pratense X

------

PHRAGMITES Reed 01a Stems dull tan, ≤6 m tall; leaves bluish green, persistent; ligules 0.1-0.4 mm; lower glumes 2.6-4.2 mm long; plants introduced, forming dense monocultures, in ditches and other disturbed areas and saline habitats ...... Phragmites australis ssp. australis X 01b Stems shiny reddish, ≤2 m tall; leaves 1b yellowish green, easily shed; ligules 0.4-1 mm; lower glumes 4-7 mm long; plants native, growing in relatively small, scattered groups, usually in undisturbed sites such as fens, sedge meadows and river/lake shores ...... Phragmites australis ssp. americanus

27 PIPTATHEROPSIS Ricegrass [Oryzopsis, in part] 01a Lemmas usually hairless (rarely sparse hairy); forets 1.5-2.5 mm long; /grains ± 1.2 mm long ...... Piptatheropsis micrantha [Oryzopsis micrantha; Piptatherum micranthum] 01b Lemmas evenly hairy; forets 2.2-6 mm long; fruits/grains ± 1.8-2.5 mm long ...... 02 2a 02a Awns 1-2.5 mm long, ± straight, soon shed; lemmas blunt-tipped ...... 1a ...... Piptatheropsis pungens [Oryzopsis pungens; Piptatherum pungens] 02b Awns 3.9-15 mm long, 1-2X abruptly bent, persistent; lemmas sharply pointed ...... 03 03a Flower clusters 3-6 cm long, with straight, close-lying branches; forets 3-6 mm long; awns 4-7 mm long Piptatheropsis exigua S2 [Oryzopsis exigua; Piptatherum exiguum] 03b Flower clusters 5-15 cm long, with curved, 3b often spreading branches; forets 2.2-4.5 mm long; awns 5-15 mm long ...... Piptatheropsis canadensis S2 3a [Oryzopsis canadensis; Piptatherum canadense]

------POA Bluegrass 01a Stems swollen (bulbous) at the base ...... Poa bulbosa X 01b Stems not swollen at the base ...... 02 02a Plants alpine, 1-15 cm tall, densely tufted, without creeping rootstocks; fower clusters 3a 1-5 cm long, narrow, crowded; anthers 0.2- 1(1.2) mm long ...... 03 02b Plants not as above, larger (occasionally alpine); anthers mostly (1.2)1.3-4mm .....04 03a Lemmas hairless or sparsely short hairy on the edges, veins and keels, 2.5-3 mm long; 1a S2 3b spikelets 3-4 mm long ... Poa lettermanii 03b Lemmas short- to long- silky-hairy on the edges, veins and keels, 3-4.6 mm long; 4a spikelets 4-6.5 mm long .... Poa abbreviata [Poa pattersonii] (in part) 04a Plants annual, weedy, widespread; lemmas hairy on the keels and edges, without a tuft of cobwebby hairs at the base; palea keels smooth; leaves often horizontally wrinkled ...... X 04b Plants perennial; forets and leaves not as above ...... 05

05a Lemmas with long, cobwebby hairs at the base ...... 06 5a 5b 05b Lemmas without long, cobwebby hairs at the base ...... 14

28 06a Stems single or in small groups from spreading rootstocks, often forming colonies/ ....07 06b Stems numerous, in clumps or tussocks, without spreading rootstocks ...... 08 07a Lemmas 2-4 mm long, often hairless between 7b veins; plants 30-80 cm tall, in moist to dry, lowland habitats throughout AB, often growing on disturbances ...... Poa pratensis X* 07b Lemmas 4-6 mm long, hairy between veins, especially near the base; plants 10-30 cm tall, 7a in alpine meadows .... Poa arctica (in part) 08a Lower glume arched or sickle-shaped and distinctly narrower than the upper one; spikelets <4 mm long ...... Poa trivialis X 08b Upper and lower glumes similar; spikelets often >4 mm long ...... 09 09a Lower panicle branches 1-2 per joint, thread-like, with spikelets at tips; anthers 0.2-1 mm long .10 09b Lower panicle branches often >2 per joint, or not distinctly thread-like with spikelets only at the ends; anthers 1.2-1.3 mm long (0.7-1.7 8a mm in Poa pattersonii) ...... 11 10a Lemmas densely silky hairy on the keels and 10a marginal veins; glumes ± equal in length; fower cluster branches smooth; ligules 1-2 mm long; plants 10-30 cm tall, on rocky, alpine slopes ...... Poa paucispicula 10b Lemmas sparsely hairy on the keels and marginal veins; glumes distinctly unequal in length; fower cluster branches usually rough- to-touch; ligules 1.5-4 mm long; plants 20- 50 cm tall, in bogs and wet meadows in the cordillera ...... Poa leptocoma 11a Plants (30)40-100(120) cm tall, loosely clumped; ligules 1.5-6 mm long; fower clusters 10b 13-30 cm long ...... Poa palustris 11b Plants 20-30(40) cm tall, in dense clumps/ 11a bunches; ligules 0.5-5.5 mm long; fower clusters mostly 5-15 cm long ...... 12 12a Upper glume 3-4.5 mm long; fower clusters 2-5 cm long; ligules 1-5.5 mm long; plants 5-20 cm tall, on stony alpine slopes in the 12a cordillera ...... Poa abbreviata [Poa pattersonii] (in part) 12b Upper glume 2-3 mm long; fower clusters 3-15 cm long; ligules 0.5-1.5 mm long; plants 13b 20-50 cm tall ...... 13 13a Glumes broadly pointed, shorter than the lowest lemma; ligules 1.5-6 mm long; native plants of grasslands, meadows and open woods throughout AB ...... Poa interior 13b Glumes tapered to a slender point, ± equalling the lowest lemma; ligules 0.2-0.5(1) mm long; introduced plants, rarely naturalized in moist meadows ...... X 13a

29 14a Stems single or in small groups from spreading rootstocks, often forming colonies/sod ....15 14b Stems numerous, in clumps or tussocks (bunchgrasses) ...... 18 15a Stems conspicuously fattened, the joints usually distinctly bent and with a conspicuous dark band ...... X 15b Stems ± cylindrical, the joints not conspicuously bent and banded ...... 16

15a 16a Lower/older leaf sheaths hairy to densely rough to touch; spikelets loosely fowered; forets ♀, 16a with feathery stigmas and no stamens; glumes and lemmas strongly fattened/keeled; ligules <2 mm long ...... Poa wheeleri 16b Lower/older leaf sheaths hairless; spikelets compact, or if loosely fowered then forets rounded on the back; forets ♂+♀, with both stigmas and stamens; glumes and lemmas rounded to strongly keeled; ligules mostly >2 17b mm long ...... 17 17a Lemmas 4-6 mm long, conspicuously hairy between veins, especially near the base; 17a spikelets clearly fattened sideways, with keeled glumes and lemmas; fower clusters open, pyramidal; plants 10-30 cm tall, in alpine meadows ...... Poa arctica (in part) 17b Lemmas 3-4 mm long, not conspicuously hairy between veins (hairs, if present, visible only after removing adjacent glumes and lemmas); spikelets often fattened on the back, with round-backed glumes and lemmas; fower clusters compact, narrow; plants 20-50 cm tall, mostly of low elevation sites ...... 18a Spikes rounded or fattened back to front 20a (dorsiventrally); glumes and lemmas rounded; upper forets projecting well beyond the lower ones ...... Poa secunda [Poa canbyi; Poa 18a juncifolia; Poa nevadensis; Poa sandbergii] 18b Spikes fattened side to side (laterally); glumes and lemmas folded and distinctly keeled; upper forets often small and inconspicuous, hidden by overlapping lower forets ...... 19 19a Leaves mostly 2-5 mm wide; fower clusters 20b open or loosely contracted, lower branches often spreading to bent back/down ...... 20 19b Leaves mostly 1-2 mm wide; fower clusters mostly contracted, rarely slightly open ....21

20a Flower clusters erect, pyramidal, not turned to one side, 2-7 cm long and almost as wide; leaves mostly basal; plants 10-30 cm tall, on alpine-subalpine slopes ...... Poa alpina 20b Flower clusters nodding, turned to one side, 5-20 cm long, usually longer than wide; leaves mostly on the lower stem; plants 30-50 cm tall, in montane woods...... Poa stenantha S2

30 21a Anthers 0.8-1.3 mm long; plants 10-30 cm tall, on alpine slopes; fower clusters 2-6(8) cm long, loosely contracted to open, with lowest branches 1-3 cm long; alpine ... Poa laxa SH 21b Anthers 1.5-3.5 mm long; plants (10)20-60 cm tall, in low elevation to alpine sites; fower clusters 2-11 cm long, contracted ...... 22 22a Flower clusters bluish green to purplish, loose, slender, 2-7 cm long, with functional ♂ & ♀ 22a parts; basal leaves all/mostly <5 cm long, often blue-green; stem leaf sheaths closed 21a ≤1/5 of their length ...... 22b Flower clusters mainly greenish, dense, spike-like, >7 cm long, mostly ♀, with ± non- functional anthers; bunchgrasses with many basal leaves >5 cm long; stem leaf sheaths closed ≥1/3 of their length ...... 23 23a Lemmas hairless or minutely hairy near the base on the keel and side veins; stem leaves not reduced upwards; plants of dry grassland and sandhills, widespread in sAB + disjunct in 23a 23b neAB ...... Poa cusickii ------23b Lemmas prominently long, silky hairy, at least on the keel and side veins; stem leaves strongly reduced upwards; plants of rocky, montane slopes and ridges, rare in AB ...... Poa fendleriana S2 *European Poa pratensis (Kentucky bluegrass) is widely introduced from planting in lawns and pastures. However, AB also has native populations.

1a 1b PUCCINELLIA Alkaligrass 01a Lemmas 1.5-2 mm long, rounded or squared at the tip; anthers 0.4-0.8 mm long; glumes with rounded backs; lower fower cluster branches ------horizontal to bent back/down ...... X 01b Lemmas 2-3 mm long, abruptly triangular at the tip; anthers 0.7-1.2 mm long; glumes ± keeled on the back; lower branches horizontal to angled upwards . .Puccinellia nuttalliana [incl. Puccinellia cusickii]

1a SETARIA Foxtail 2a 01a Spikelets with 4-12(20) bristles at the base ...... Setaria pumila X [Setaria glauca] 01b Spikelets with 1-3 (rarely 6) bristles at the base ...... 02 2b 02a Upper lemmas shiny and smooth (occasionally faintly wrinkled); spikelets 3 mm long ...... Setaria italica X 02b Upper lemmas dull and wrinkled; spikelets 1.8- 2.2 mm long ...... Setaria viridis X

31 SPHENOPHOLIS Wedgegrass 01a Flower clusters open, lax, nodding; upper glume 3-6 X as long as wide, pointed or rounded (not hooded) ...... Sphenopholis intermedia 01b Flower clusters dense, usually spike-like, ± 1b erect; upper glume 2-3 X as long as wide, rounded and ± hooded at the tip ...... Sphenopholis obtusata 1a SPOROBOLUS Dropseed 01a Spikelets ± stalkless, in spikes or elongating, ------spike-like clusters (racemes) ...... 02 01b Spikelets stalked, in open or compact, branched clusters (panicles), sometimes spike-like with spikelets arising all around the central stalk (neither obviously from one side nor in 2 opposite rows) ...... 03 02a Rootstocks white; spikelets pressed to the main stalk; upper glumes 1-veined or with side veins on 1 side only, fringed with long hairs on the keel, awnless; ligules usually ± 1 mm long Sporobolus hookerianus [Spartina gracilis] 02b Rootstocks purplish to pale brown; spikelets 2a angled upwards to spreading; upper glumes 1-veined or side veins on both sides, rough to 2b touch (not fringed), awned; ligules usually 2-3 S2 3a mm long .... Sporobolus michauxianus ...... [Spartina pectinata] 03a Spikelets >3 mm .....Sporobolus rigidus 4a ...... [ longifolia] 03b Spikelets <3 mm long ...... 04 4b 04a Plants perennial; stems 30-80 cm tall; leaf sheaths with a conspicuous tuft of hairs at the base of the blade; upper sheaths not noticeably infated; fower clusters usually open, with spreading branches, 10-20 cm long, exposed ...... Sporobolus cryptandrus 04b Plants annual; stems 5-30 cm tall; leaf sheaths hairless or sparsely hairy at the blade base; upper sheaths usually infated; fower clusters spike-like, 1.5-3 cm long, mostly enclosed in S2 ------the leaf sheath ...Sporobolus neglectus THINOPYRUM Wheatgrass 01a Stems 1-few together, from creeping rootstocks; leaf blades sparsely hairy on the 1a upper side, prominently thickened and hard at the edges; glumes with midveins slightly 1b longer and more prominent than side veins ...... X [Agropyron intermedium var. trichophorum] 01b Stems tufted, without creeping rootstocks; leaf blades densely hairy or rough on the upper side, thin and thin and ± translucent at the edges; glumes with midveins similar to side veins ...... Thinopyrum ponticum X

32 TRISETUM Trisetum 01a Lemma awns absent (usually) or 1-2 mm long and hidden by the glumes Trisetum wolfi S2 01b Lemma awns 5-10(14) mm long, bent, 1a protruding from the forets...... 02 02a Stems tufted, densely hairy at the top with 0.8- 2a 1.2 mm hairs; fower clusters dense, spike-like (sometimes a bit interrupted) ...... Trisetum spicatum [incl. Trisetum montanum] 02b Stems single or in small tufts, hairless or with hairs 0.1 mm long at the top; fower clusters open or contracted but not spike-like .....03 03a Ligules 0.5-1.0 mm long; spikelets yellowish; 3a anthers 2-3 mm; ovaries hairless ...... 3b ...... Trisetum favescens X 03b Ligules 1.0-4.0 mm long; spikelets green or purple-tinged; anthers 0.5-1.8 mm; ovaries hairy near the tips ....Trisetum cernuum S2 [incl. Trisetum canescens]

------TRITICUM Wheat 01a Glumes keeled only at the tip, loosely pressed to the lower forets; grains dull, neither glossy, not semi-translucent; central stalk of the fower cluster resilient, not breaking apart ...... Triticum aestivum X 01b Glumes keeled, almost winged at the base, tightly pressed to the lower forets; grains glossy, often somewhat translucent; central stalk of the fower cluster breaking under X 1b pressure ...... Triticum durum 1a ------

1a ZIZANIA Wildrice 01a Lemmas fexible, papery and semi-transparent, dull or sub-lustrous, with tiny, scattered hairs not or only slightly denser towards the tip; 1b aborted ♀ spikelets 0.4-1 mm wide; branches of mature ♀ fower clusters usually widely divergent ...... Zizania aquatica X 01b Lemmas stiff, leathery, lustrous, hairless or with stiff-hairs in lines and denser towards the tip; aborted ♀ spikelets 0.6-2.6 mm wide; branches of mature ♀ fower clusters usually pressed to the main stalks or 1-few slightly spreading ...... Zizania palustris S1

33 References

Alberta Conservaton Informaton Management System (ACIMS). 2017. List of all Taxa Confrmed for Alberta as recorded in the ACIMS database - July 2017.in A. Parks, editor. ACIMS, Government of Alberta, Edmonton, AB.

Anderson, H. 2012. Invasive Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea subsp. arun- dinacea) Best Management Practces in . Ontario Invasive Plant Council, Peterborough, ON.

Barkworth, M. E., Laurel K. Anderton, Kathleen M. Capels, Sandy Long, and M. B. Piep, editors. 2007. Manual of Grasses for North America. Intermountain Herbarium and Utah State University Press, Logan, Utah.

Brouillet, L., F. Coursol, S.J. Meades, M. Favreau, M. Anions, P. Bélisle & P. Desmet. 2015. VASCAN, the Database of Vascular Plants of . htp://data. canadensys.net/vascan/

Clayton, W. D., M. S. Vorontsova, K. T. Harman, and H. Williamson. 2006. Grass- Base - The Online World Grass Flora. The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England. Accessed February 2018. htp://www.kew.org/ data/grasses-db.html.

Douglas, G. W., D. Meidinger, and J. Pojar. 2001. Illustrated fora of Britsh Colum- bia. Volume 7 (Orchidaceae through Zosteraceae). Brit- ish Columbia Ministry of Forests, Victoria, Britsh Columbia.

Gleason, H. A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern and adjacent Canada. 2 editon. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York.

Hitchcock, C. L., A. Cronquist, M. Ownbey, and J. W. Thompson. 1955-69. Vascular plants of the Pacifc Northwest. University of Press, Seatle, Washington.

Lesica, P. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. Botanical Research Insttute of , Fort Worth, Texas.

Looman, J. and K. F. Best. 1979. Budd’s fora of the Canadian provinces. No. 1662. Canadian Government Publishing Centre, Hull, Quebec.

Michigan Natural Features Inventory. 2018. Phragmites, natve or not. Michigan State University Extension, Lansing, MI. Accessed February 2018. htps:// mnf.anr.msu.edu/phragmites/natve-or-not.cfm.

34 Moss, E. H. 1983. Flora of Alberta.2nd editon. University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Ontario.

New England Wildfower Society. 2017. Go Botany website. New England Wildfower Society, Framingham, MA. Accessed. htps://gobotany.newenglandwild.org.

Packer, J. G. and A. J. Gould. 2017. Vascular Plants of Alberta Part 1: Ferns, Fern Allies, Gymnosperms, and Monocots. University of Calgary Press, Calgary, Alberta.

Province of Alberta. 2016. Weed Control Act, Ofce Consolidaton. Alberta Regula- ton 19/2010 with amendments up to and including Alberta Regulaton 125/2016. Alberta Queen’s Printer, Edmonton, AB.

Sturtevant, R., K. Detlof, and W. Conard. 2015. Phalaris arundinacea L.: U.S. Geo- logical Survey, Nonindigenous Aquatc Species Database. Gainesville, FL, and NOAA Great Lakes Aquatc Nonindigenous Species Informaton System, Ann Arbor, MI. Accessed February 2018. htps://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/great- lakes/FactSheet.aspx?SpeciesID=2938.

Tannas, K. 2001. Common plants of the western - Volume 1: Grasses and grass-like species. . Lethbridge Community College, Lethbridge, AB.

35 List of Species and Illustration Sources Illus. Illus. Scientfc Name Source Scientfc Name Source Achnatherum hymenoides H&C Bromus sitchensis H&C Achnatherum nelsonii H&C Bromus squarrosus BC Achnatherum richardsonii H&C Bromus tectorum H&C Agropyron cristatum H&C Bromus vulgaris H&C Agropyron fragile LK Calamagrosts canadensis H&C Agrosts exarata H&C Calamagrosts lapponica BC Agrosts gigantea H&C Calamagrosts montanensis H&C Agrosts mertensii H&C Calamagrosts purpurascens H&C Agrosts scabra H&C Calamagrosts rubescens H&C Agrosts stolonifera H&C Calamagrosts stricta H&C Agrosts variabilis H&C Calamovilfa longifolia H&C Alopecurus aequalis H&C Catabrosa aquatca H&C Alopecurus arundinaceus LK Cinna latfolia H&C Alopecurus carolinianus H&C Dactylis glomerata H&C Alopecurus geniculatus H&C Danthonia californica H&C Alopecurus magellanicus H&C Danthonia intermedia H&C Alopecurus pratensis H&C Danthonia parryi H&C Anthoxanthum hirtum H&C Danthonia spicata H&C Anthoxanthum montcola H&C Danthonia unispicata H&C Arctagrosts latfolia JM Deschampsia cespitosa H&C Aristda purpurea H&C Deschampsia elongata H&C Avena fatua H&C Dichanthelium acuminatum H&C Avena satva H&C Dichanthelium leibergii B&B Beckmannia syzigachne H&C Dichanthelium oligosanthes H&C Bouteloua curtpendula H&C Dichanthelium wilcoxianum LK Bouteloua gracilis H&C Digitaria ischaemum H&C Briza maxima BC Digitaria sanguinalis H&C Bromus ciliatus H&C Distchlis spicata H&C Bromus commutatus H&C Echinochloa crus-galli H&C Bromus hordeaceus H&C Echinochloa muricata LK Bromus inermis H&C Elymus albicans BC Bromus japonicus H&C Elymus canadensis H&C Bromus latglumis JM; LK Elymus curvatus B&B Bromus porteri H&C Elymus elymoides H&C Bromus pumpellianus H&C Elymus glaucus H&C Bromus richardsonii LK Elymus lanceolatus H&C Bromus secalinus H&C

36 Illus. Illus. Scientfc Name Source Scientfc Name Source Elymus repens H&C Leymus cinereus H&C Elymus scribneri H&C Leymus innovatus H&C Elymus trachycaulus H&C Leymus mollis H&C Elymus violaceus H&C Lolium arundinaceum H&C Elymus virginicus H&C Lolium multforum H&C Eragrosts cilianensis H&C Lolium perenne H&C Eremopyrum tritceum H&C Lolium persicum LK Festuca altaica BC Lolium pratense H&C Festuca bafnensis H&C Lolium temulentum H&C Festuca brachyphylla H&C Melica smithii H&C Festuca campestris H&C Melica spectabilis H&C Festuca hallii LK Melica subulata H&C Festuca idahoensis H&C; LK Muhlenbergia asperifolia H&C Festuca minutfora BC Muhlenbergia cuspidata H&C Festuca occidentalis H&C Muhlenbergia glomerata BC Festuca ovina LK Muhlenbergia paniculata H&C Festuca rubra H&C Muhlenbergia racemosa H&C Festuca saximontana H&C Muhlenbergia richardsonis H&C Festuca subulata H&C Munroa squarrosa H&C Festuca trachyphylla BC Nassella viridula H&C Festuca valesiaca LK Oryzopsis asperifolia H&C; JM Festuca viviparoidea BC Panicum capillare H&C Glyceria borealis H&C Panicum miliaceum H&C Glyceria elata H&C Pascopyrum smithii H&C Glyceria grandis H&C Phalaris arundinacea H&C Glyceria pulchella BC Phalaris canariensis H&C Glyceria striata H&C Phleum alpinum H&C Helictochloa hookeri H&C Phleum pratense H&C Hesperostpa comata H&C Phragmites australis H&C Hesperostpa curtseta H&C Piptatheropsis canadensis B&B Hesperostpa spartea H&C Piptatheropsis exigua H&C Hordeum brachyantherum H&C Piptatheropsis micrantha H&C Hordeum jubatum H&C Piptatheropsis pungens B&B; LK Hordeum murinum H&C Poa abbreviata H&C; LK Hordeum pusillum H&C Poa alpina H&C Hordeum vulgare H&C Poa annua H&C Koeleria macrantha H&C Poa arctca H&C

37 Illus. Illus. Scientfc Name Source Scientfc Name Source Poa arida H&C Thinopyrum intermedium H&C Poa bulbosa H&C Thinopyrum pontcum BC Poa compressa H&C Torreyochloa pallida H&C Poa cusickii H&C Trisetum cernuum H&C Poa fendleriana H&C Trisetum favescens H&C Poa glauca H&C Trisetum spicatum H&C; JM Poa interior H&C Trisetum wolfi H&C Poa laxa BC Tritcum aestvum H&C Poa leptocoma H&C; LK Tritcum durum LK Poa letermanii H&C Vahlodea atropurpurea H&C Poa nemoralis H&C Ventenata dubia H&C Poa palustris H&C Vulpia octofora H&C Poa paucispicula H&C; LK x Elyhordeum macounii LK Poa pratensis H&C Zizania aquatca LK Poa secunda H&C Zizania palustris LK Poa stenantha H&C H&C Key to Illustration Sources Poa wheeleri H&C B&B = Britton, N. L. and A. Brown (1913) Podagrosts humilis H&C Polypogon monspeliensis H&C BC = Douglas et. al. (1999); illustrations provided courtesy of the Province of Psathyrostachys juncea LK . Pseudoroegneria spicata H&C Puccinellia distans H&C H&C = Hitchcock, C. L., A. Cronquist, M. Ownbey, and J. W. Thompson (1955-69) Puccinellia nutalliana H&C Schizachne purpurascens H&C LK = Linda Kershaw. Schizachyrium scoparium H&C JM = John Maywood. Scolochloa festucacea H&C Secale cereale H&C Setaria italica BC Setaria pumila H&C Setaria viridis H&C Spartna gracilis H&C Spartna pectnata H&C Sphenopholis intermedia H&C Sphenopholis obtusata H&C Sporobolus cryptandrus H&C Sporobolus neglectus H&C

38 Index arundinacea. See Arctagrostis latifolia Achnatherum 8, 12 latifolia 8 hymenoides. See Eriocoma hymenoides Aristida nelsonii 12 longiseta. See Aristida purpurea richardsonii 12 purpurea 7 Agropyron 6, 12. See also Elymus; See Avena 9, 14 also Tinopyrum; See also Pseu- fatua 14 doroegneria; See also Pascopyrum; hookeri. See Helictochloa hookeri See also Eremopyrum sativa 14 albicans. See Elymus albicans Avenula cristatum 12 hookeri. See Helictochloa hookeri dasystachyum. See Elymus lanceolatus Beckmannia fragile 12 syzigachne 5 intermedium Bouteloua 5, 14 var. trichophorum. See Tinopyrum curtipendula 14 intermedium gracilis 14 pectiniforme. See Agropyron cristatum Briza repens. See Elymus repens maxima 9 scribneri. See Elymus scribneri Bromus 3, 14 sibiricum. See Agropyron fragile aleutensis. See Bromus sitchensis smithii. See Pascopyrum smithii altissimus. See Bromus latiglumis spicatum. See Pseudoroegneria spicata anomalus. See Bromus porteri trachycaulum. See Elymus trachycaulus carinatus. See Bromus sitchensis violaceum. See Elymus violaceus ciliatus 16 Agrostis 8, 12 commutatus 15 exarata 12 diandrus 14 gigantea 12 edgeatus. See Bromus sitchensis humilis. See Podagrostis humilis hordeaceus 14 mertensii 12 inermis 15 scabra 12 ssp. inermis. See Bromus inermis stolonifera 12 ssp. pumpellianus. See Bromus thurberiana. See Podagrostis humilis pumpellianus variabilis 12 japonicus 15 Alopecurus 8, 13 latiglumis 16 aequalis 13 marginatus. See Bromus sitchensis alpinus. See Alopecurus magellanicus mollis. See Bromus hordeaceus arundinaceus 13 porteri 15, 16 carolinianus 13 pumpellianus 15 geniculatus 13 richardsonii 16 magellanicus 13 rigidus. See Bromus diandrus occidentalis. See Alopecurus magel- riparius 15 lanicus secalinus 14 pratensis 13 sitchensis 15 Anthoxanthum 3, 13 squarrosus 15 hirtum 13 tectorum 14 monticola 13 vulgaris 16 Arctagrostis Calamagrostis 8, 16 39 canadensis 17 canadensis 20 epigeios 16 curvatus 20 inexpansa. See Calamagrostis stricta elymoides 20 lapponica 17 glaucus 19, 20 montanensis 16 innovatus. See Leymus innovatus purpurascens 16 junceus. See Psathyrostachys juncea rubescens 16 lanceolatus 19 stricta 17 mollis. See Leymus mollis Calamovilfa piperi. See Leymus cinereus longifolia. See Sporobolus rigidus repens 19 Catabrosa scribneri 19 aquatica 4 trachycaulus 20 Cinna violaceus 20 latifolia 8 virginicus 20 Dactylis Elytrigia glomerata 4 repens. See Elymus repens Danthonia 9, 17 Eragrostis californica 17 cilianensis 10 intermedia 17 megastachya. See Eragrostis cilianensis parryi 17 Eremopyrum spicata 17 triticeum 6 unispicata 17 Eriocoma Deschampsia 9, 18 hymenoides 8 cespitosa 18 Festuca 11, 21 elongata 18 altaica 21 Dichanthelium 5, 18 arundinacea. See Lolium arundina- acuminatum ceum var. fasciculatum. See Dichanthelium bafnensis 22 lanuginosum brachyphylla 22 var. thermale. See Dichanthelium campestris 21 thermale hallii 9, 21 lanuginosum 18 idahoensis 22 leibergii 18 minutifora 22 oligosanthes 18 occidentalis 21 thermale 18 ovina 22 wilcoxianum 18 pratensis. See Lolium pratense Digitaria 5, 18 rubra 21 ischaemum 18 saximontana 22 sanguinalis 18 scabrella. See Festuca hallii; See Festuca Distichlis campestris spicata 10 subulata 21 stricta. See Distichlis spicata trachyphylla 22 Echinochloa 5 valesiaca 22 crus-galli 19 viviparoidea 21 muricata 19 Glyceria 4, 23 Elymus 6, 7, 19 borealis 23 albicans 19 elata 23

40 grandis 23 richardsonis 26 pulchella 23 Munroa striata 23 squarrosa 10 Helictochloa Nassella hookeri 9 viridula 7 Helictotrichon Oryzopsis. See also Piptatheropsis hookeri. See Helictochloa hookeri asperifolia 7 Hesperostipa 7, 23 canadensis. See Piptatheropsis ca- comata 23 nadensis curtiseta 23 exigua. See Piptatheropsis exigua spartea 23 hymenoides. See Eriocoma hymenoides Hierochloe. See Anthoxanthum micrantha. See Piptatheropsis micran- alpina. See Anthoxanthum monticola tha hirta. See Anthoxanthum hirtum pungens. See Piptatheropsis pungens odorata. See Anthoxanthum hirtum Panicum 5, 26. See also Dichanthelium Hordeum 6, 24 acuminatum. See Dichanthelium acu- brachyantherum 24 minatum glaucum. See Hordeum murinum brodiei. See Dichanthelium lanugino- jubatum 24 sum murinum 24 capillare 26 pusillum 24 ferventicola. See Dichanthelium ther- vulgare 24 male Koeleria lanuginosum. See Dichanthelium lanu- macrantha 10, 11 ginosum Leymus 7, 24 leibergii. See Dichanthelium leibergii cinereus 24 miliaceum 26 innovatus 24 scribnerianum. See Dichanthelium mollis 24 oligosanthes Lolium 6, 11 thermale. See Dichanthelium thermale arundinaceum 25 wilcoxianum 18 multiforum 25 Pascopyrum perenne 25 smithii 6 ssp. multiforum. See Lolium multi- Phalaris 3, 27 forum arundinacea 27 persicum 25 canariensis 27 pratense 25 Phleum 8, 27 temulentum 25 alpinum 27 Melica 4, 25 commutatum. See Phleum alpinum smithii 25 pratense 27 spectabilis 25 Phragmites 10, 27 subulata 25 australis Muhlenbergia 8, 26 ssp. americanus 27 asperifolia 26 ssp. australis 27 cuspidata 26 Piptatheropsis 7, 28 glomerata 26 canadensis 28 paniculata 5, 26 exigua 28 racemosa 26 micrantha 28

41 pungens 28 distans 31 Piptatherum. See Piptatheropsis nuttalliana 31 canadense. See Piptatheropsis canaden- paucifora. See Torreyochloa pallida sis Schedonnardus exiguum. See Piptatheropsis exigua paniculatus. See Muhlenbergia panicu- micranthum. See Piptatheropsis mi- lata crantha Schedonorus pungens. See Piptatheropsis pungens arundinaceus. See Lolium arundina- Poa 4, 11, 28 ceum abbreviata 28, 29 pratensis. See Lolium pratense alpina 30 Schizachne annua 28 purpurascens 4 arctica 29, 30 Schizachyrium arida 30 scoparium 3 bulbosa 28 Scolochloa canbyi. See Poa secunda festucacea 9, 10 compressa 30 Secale cusickii 31 cereale 6 fendleriana 31 Setaria 5, 31 glauca 31 glauca. See Setaria pumila interior 29 italica 31 juncifolia. See Poa secunda pumila 31 laxa 31 viridis 31 leptocoma 29 Sitanion lettermanii 28 hystrix. See Elymus elymoides nemoralis 29 Spartina. See Sporobolus nevadensis. See Poa secunda gracilis. See Sporobolus hookerianus palustris 29 pectinata. See Sporobolus michauxia- pattersonii. See Poa abbreviata nus paucispicula 29 Sphenopholis 9, 10, 32 pratensis 29 intermedia 32 sandbergii. See Poa secunda obtusata 32 secunda 30 Sporobolus 5, 8 stenantha 30 cryptandrus 32 trivialis 29 hookerianus 32 wheeleri 30 michauxianus 32 Poaceae 3 neglectus 32 Podagrostis rigidus 32 humilis 8 Stipa. See Achnatherum; See Hesperosti- Polypogon pa monspeliensis 8 columbiana. See Achnatherum nelsonii Psathyrostachys comata. See Hesperostipa comata juncea 7 curtiseta. See Hesperostipa curtiseta Pseudoroegneria nelsonii. See Achnatherum nelsonii spicata 6 richardsonii. See Achnatherum richard- Puccinellia 11, 31 sonii cusickii. See Puccinellia nuttalliana spartea. See Hesperostipa spartea

42 viridula. See Nassella viridula Tinopyrum 6, 32 intermedium 32 ponticum 32 Torreyochloa pallida 11 Trisetum 10, 11 canescens. See Trisetum cernuum cernuum 33 favescens 33 montanum. See Trisetum spicatum spicatum 33 wolfi 10, 33 Triticum 6, 33 aestivum 33 durum 33 Vahlodea atropurpurea 9 Ventenata dubia 11 Vulpia octofora 9, 11 x Elyhordeum macounii 20 Zizania 3, 33 aquatica 33 palustris 33

43