Common Grasses & Meadow Plants Jim Kennedy, NH Coverts

• Identification - Ecology - Agronomy - Gestalt

• Gramminoids - Grasses - Sedges - Rushes

• Forbs - Wildflowers - Legumes – Ferns - Weeds Enfield Shaker Museum - North Field Grasses - Identification

1 Characteristics of Forage and Pasture Grasses Found in the Northeast U.S. Species Growth Habit Seedhead Leaf Characteristics Other Characteristics Bluegrass (Poa spp.) Kentucky – P. pratensis Canada – P. compressa

Short, low growing perennial grasses; they form a dense sod spreading by short rhizomes; Ky BG is dark green and Can. Midrib has two BG is blue-green grooves and is Leaves fold in bud translucent in shoot Kentucky Canada light Narrow leaves with boat shaped tip Many short rhizomes Panicle with very small seed Truncate ligules Leaves fold in bud shoot Annual bluegrass Poa annua

An annual often found near gates and laneways where soil is compacted

P. annua spp. reptans is a subspecies that is Leaves have boat shaped tip and double stoloniferous. grooved, translucent midrib when held in Small, short panicles An annual bunchgrass Pointed ligule crinkled leaves light; leaves folded in the bud shoot Roughstalk bluegrass Poa trivialis

Creeping perennial Prefers shady, moist areas

Leaves folded in bud shoot

Spreads by stolons; forms

dense patches Loose, green panicle Pointed ligule; rough surface Folded in bud shoot and leaf blades fold Orchardgrass Dactylis glomerata

Tall growing bunchgrass; Long leaves that are lighter green compared to other grasses;

Leaves strongly folded in bud shoot

Panicle seed head with Prolific tillering grass Long, pointed ligule, Leaves strongly folded ball-like clumps no auricle

• see handout for references & links * introduced species ✓ key feature The Gestalt of Grasses© Geastalt definition: the whole is greater than the sum of its parts Where & When How & What = Who

Roadsides Fall Weedy Areas Purple Clouds purple lovegrass Sandy soil small seeds Eragrostis spectabilis Tumbleweeds

Flag leaves Winter Wet meadows reed canary grass high stems Phalaris arundinacea thick patches Gramminoids (grass-like Plants)

SEDGES RUSHES GRASSES have edges are round have joints down to the ground

1 bract under sac 6 bracts under capsule 2 bracts (glumes) (periginium) under floret Grasses - Types

Bunch Grasses (cespitose) • orchard grass Sod-forming Grasses • red fescue (rhizomatous & stoloniferous) • quackgrass • brome grasses

Cool Season Grasses (C3) Warm Season Grasses (C4) • bluegrasses • bluestems • fescues • switchrass • ryegrass • crabgrass WHERE - Ecological Groups

HAYFIELD/PASTURE/LAWN

you are RIPARIAN & FLOODPLAIN here

WOODS

UPLAND & WEEDY & PRAIRIES WASTE PLACES COVER CROPS & GRAINS WET MEADOWS ORNAMENTALS & MARSHES Grasslands & Meadows Workshop

WET MEADOWS HAYFIELD/MEADOWS • reed canary grass • orchard grass* • wool grass • Kentucky bluegrass* • soft rush • timothy* • bulrush • meadow foxtail* • cattails • sweet vernal grass* • phragmites • smooth brome • bluejoint grass • perennial rye* • tussock sedge • narrow-leaved fescues* • fringed sedge • reed canary grass • sweet vernal grass* UPLANDS • wide-leaved fescues* • big bluestem • winter rye • little bluestem • barnyard grass • switch grass • quackgrass • indian grass • redtop • prairie cordgrass WEEDY/WASTE PLACES RIPARIAN & FLOODPLAIN • path rush • wild rye • quackgrass • fringed brome • crabgrasses WOODS • stinkgrass - On your own orchard grass* Dactylis glomerata turf grass, pastures - universal species

✓ ball-like clumps of 1- sided spikelets

✓ long pointed ligule

✓ very clumped form, wintergreen leaves Kentucky bluegrass* Poa pratensis turf grass, pastures - universal species

✓ boat-shaped leaf tip 3-5 branches/ ✓ grooved leaf node with transluscent midrib cobwebby hairs on lemma

glumes shorter than first lemma

✓ open triangle- shape panicle Kentucky bluegrass* Poa pratensis turf grass, pastures - universal species

✓ gray blue triangle-shape panicle

bleached, contracted head caused by pathogen Timothy* meadow foxtail* Phleum pratense Alopecurus pratensis Forage grass - hayfields hayfields

✓ pencil spike forked florets (meadow foxtail has awns)

✓ corms - “onions”

sweet tasting stem base Timothy vs. Meadow Foxtail

TextTextText

Slide courtesy Sid Bosworth, UVM sweet vernal grass* barnyard grass* Anthoxanthum odoratum Echinochloa crus-galli Grasslands annual weed short brown spike- ✓ ✓ dark brown spiny like panicle panicle

sweet smelling coarse leaves short bunch grass Reed canary grass bluejoint grass Phalaris arundinacea Calamagrostis canadensis Hayfields, Wet Meadows Marshes

✓ lines of leaves, stems, heads ✓ pencil spike

forked florets (meadow foxtail has awns)

✓ pennant-shaped flag leaves long narrow rough leaves smooth brome* Native fringed bromeWarm Season Bromus inermis Bromus ciliatus Forage grass - hayfields Perennial Riparian areas, forageRhizomatous in West

✓ 1-sided long, thin ✓ drooping seed spikelets heads with paired with no awns florets short awns

curly leaves - black fungal ✓ “M” in spots middle of leaf Native perennial rye* quackgrass*Warm Season Lolium perenne Elytrigia repens Perennial Turf & conservation, hayfields weedy pest Rhizomatous zig-zag stems zig-zag stems ✓ spikelets ✓ spikelets on EDGE FLAT “ryeee” “quaaak”

leaf constriction at tip ✓ shiny leaves, ✓ long midrib clasping auricles

✓ long white roots Slide courtesy Sid Bosworth, UVM Canada wild ryeNative winter rye* Warm Season Secale cereale Elymus canadense Perennial Cover crop, conservation riparian areas Rhizomatous

✓ bristly seed heads

✓ gray-green stems, leaves indian grass big bluestemNative little bluestem Warm Season Schizachrium scoparium Sorghastrum nutalli Andropogon gerardiiPerennial warm season grass warm season grass warm seasonRhizomatous grass cloud of panicles, small fuzzy seed heads ✓ ✓ tumbleweeds ✓ long fuzzy seed heads ✓ turkey foot

✓ bunch grass growth forms ✓ tan, orange, purple fall colors fall panicum Native switchgrass Warm Season Panicum virgatum Panicum dichotomiflorumPerennial warm season grass weedy, waste areasRhizomatous

✓ cloud of panicles, tumbleweeds

✓ wide open panicles with single seeds

✓ tan fall color red fescue* sheep (hard) fescue*Native Festuca rubra < narrow-leaved fescues > Warm Season Festuca trachyphylla (ovina)Perennial Turf & conservation, dry fields conservation, dry fieldsRhizomatous

tight inflorescence ✓ shorter glumes, awned lemmas

✓ rolled, thin leaves

✓ clumping habit meadow fescue* Native tall fescue*Warm Season Schedonorus pratensis < wide-leaved fescues > Schedonorus arundinaceusPerennial Forage, hay fields conservation, hayRhizomatous fields

✓ large open panicles ✓ bunch grasses

✓ wide corrugated lowest node leaves lowest node 1-branched 2-branched

Photos courtesy Sid Bosworth, UVM smooth crabgrass* Native stinkgrass*Warm Season Digitaria ischaemum Eragrostis minorPerennial Universal weed weedy/wasteRhizomatous places

short form ✓ contracted panicle multiple florets

✓ bunch grasses ✓ digitate (finger- shaped) raceme single florets tall form Photos courtesy Dennis Magee common reed cattail (not a grass) Phragmites australis Typhia latifolia marshes wetlands

✓ narrow, tight plumes

✓ shorter grass - narrower panicle

✓ large, open plumes wool grass dark green bulrush Cyperus cyperinus Scirpus atrovirens wet meadows, marshes wet meadows, compacted soils

✓ taller grass - wider, loose panicle

✓ shorter grass - narrower panicle soft rush path rush Juncus effusus Juncus tennuis wet meadows, marshes trails, compacted soils

✓ shorter grass - narrower panicle

✓ dark green clumps with brown heads ✓ compact grass-like look with brown seed heads tussock sedge fringed sedge Carex stricta Carex crinita wet meadows, marshes wet meadows, marshes

✓ wiry leaves

✓ heads hang down

✓ shorter grass - narrower panicle

✓ raised tussocks Common Meadow Plants

• Wildflowers

• Legumes

• Ferns

• Weeds

❁ pollinator value Early Flowers

(not a grass)

❁ golden Alexanders ❁ common dandelion* blue flowers on Zizia aurea Taraxacum officinale spiky leaves

❁ blue lupine* blue flag iris Lupinus polyphyllus Iris versicolor Early Flowers

(not a grass)

blue flowers on ragged robin* spiky leaves Lychnis flos-cuculi

buttercups Ranunculus spp. blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium alanticum Daisies

ox-eye daisey* Leucanthemum vulgare

❁ black-eyed Susan* Rudbeckia hirta Milkweeds

❁ common milkweed ❁ swamp milkweed Asclepias syriaca Asclepias incarnata

❁ butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa ❁ Goldenrods outcurved Group 1 early/gray/seaside flowers, basal Solidago spp. leaves larger

Group 2 outcurved tall/Canada/late Solidago spp. flowers, same- sized leaves

Group 3 downy/hairy/white spiral flowers, Solidago spp. basal leaves larger Group 4 blue-stemmed/zig-zag/ spiral flowers, slender Solidago spp. same-sized leaves Group 5 grass-leaved/slender- flat-topped leaved flowers Euthamia spp. narrow leaves ❁ Asters

❁ New England ❁ flat-topped ❁ smooth blue aster white aster aster Symphyotrichum Doellingeria Symphyotrichium novae-angliae umbellata laeve

Photos courtesy Toby Alexander, VT NRCS ❁ ❁ Legumes

Slide courtesy Sid Bosworth, UVM

Text Ferns

sensitive fern hay-scented fern Onoclea sensibilis Dennstaedtia punctilobula

interrupted/cinnamon fern Osmunda spp. Weeds Commonly Found Weeds in Vermont Pastures

Sid Bosworth, Extension Professor, Department of Plant and Soil Science, University of Vermont [email protected]

There are many weeds that can be found in pastures in Vermont. The following list represents some of the more commonly found species or some of the more problematic species. According to a 2010 survey of 49 pasture farms in Vermont, the top five weeds identified as most problematic were smooth bedstraw, common milkweed, Canada thistle, goldenrod and bull thistle. To see the complete list, refer to Table 1.

Weeds vary in their habitat and degree of aggresive growth. Some weeds are opportunistic only showing up in open areas or compacted areas near fence gates and watering sites. Others can be quite competitive and will spread quickly through a field or pasture.

To see a larger image, click on the respective thumbnail picture. Broadleaf Weeds Bedstraw, Smooth Creeping perennial Propagation by seed and rhizomes Very aggressive spreading weed

Buttercup species Simple and/or creeping perennial Propagation by seed (and stolons for some species) Mildly toxic to livestock but usually unpalatable

Burdock Biennial Propagation by seed Mostly found around watering or feeding areas

Bull thistle Biennial Propagation by wind dispersed seed only Young plants form a rosette

Canada thistle Creeping perennial Propagation by seed and deep rhizomes Will form in large colonies

Curly dock Taprooted perennial Propagation by seed

Cinquefoil species Simple and/or creeping perennial Propagation by seed (and stolons for some) Often associated with poor fertility

Chicory Simple taprooted perennial Propagation by seed Occasionally causes allergenic dermititis to humans

Dandelion Simple taprooted perennial Propagation by wind blown seed

Dogbane, Hemp Creeping perennial Propagation by seed and rhizomes Very mildly toxic but normally not palatable

Goldenrod Creeping perennial Propagation by seed and rhizomes

Hoary allysum Biennial or simple perennial Propagation by seed Potentially toxic to susceptible horses

Horsenettle Creeping perennial Propagates by seed and rhizomes Poisonous but not readily eaten by livestock Knapweed, Spotted Biennial or short lived perennial Propagation by seed Can aggresively take over areas Milkweed, Common Creeping perennial Propagation by seed and rhizomes Mildly toxic but normally not palatable Nightshade, Eastern Black Annual found in open areas or rock outcrops Propagates by seed Very poisonous

Plantains (Broadleaf and Narrowleaf) Simple perennial Propagation by seed

Pokeweed Simple perennial Propagation by seed All parts are poisonous to livestock

Spurge, Leafy Creeping perennial Propagation by seed and rhizomes Moderatly toxic to cattle but unpalatable White Campion Annual but can act as biennial or short lived perennial Propagation primarily by seed Will vegetativelly propagate from root buds

Wild Carrot Biennial Propagation by seed

Wild Chervil Biennial (but can creep) Heads out month earlier than Wild Carrot Propagation by seed Will produce horizontal stems if mowed frequently Wild Parsnip Biennial (very aggressive spreading weed) Propagation by seed Causes photoreaction to humans and livestock Yellow Rattle Annual Propagation by seed A small herb but hemiparasitic to forage grasses

Grasses and Grass-Like Weeds Fine Fescues (Red, Hard, Sheep) Perennial bunchgrass (except creeping red fescue) Propagation by seed (and rhizomes with red fescue) Narrow, wiry leaves not very palatable

Sweet Vernalgrass Perennial bunchgrass Propagation by seed Not very palatable

Rush species Perennial grass-like plant that prefers wet areas Propagation by seed and short rhizomes Not very palatable

Yellow Nutsedge Creeping Perennial Propagation by seed and nutlets Not very palatable Worst Weeds

whorled (smooth) bedstraw* Galium mollugo

little yellow rattle* Rhinanthus minor

common thistle* Cirsium vulgare Worst Weeds

wild parsnip* Pastinaca sativa

wild chervil* Anthriscus sylvestris Pollinator Weeds

wild carrot joe-pye weed (Queen Anne’s lace)* Eupatoriadelphus maculatus Daucus carota Pollinator Weeds

broad-leaved plantain* Plantago major

heal-all Prunella vulgaris Field Session

• Grassland Management - Early mowing - Mid-season mowing - Late mowing - Wildlife openings - Clearcuts - Wet meadows • Wildlife • Grasses, Wildflowers, & Weeds

Enfield Shaker Museum - South Field