BIOL 325 – Systematics Lab 11 ‐ Monocots part 2 (Graminoid Monocots)

I. Families to Know on Sight (no keying allowed for lab quizzes or final) A. (sedge family) – p. 193  Graminoid, rhizomatous herbs.  Stems triangular.  Lvs closed‐sheathing and linear.  Fls small, perianth reduced to 1‐6 bristles of lacking, typically in panicales of spikelets or spike‐ like.  Fr a triangular or flattened achene.

Diagnostic Summary: Graminoid herbs with solid, triangular stems, closed‐sheathing and tiny in panicles of spikelets or spike‐like, and an indehiscent triangular or flattened achene.

B. Poaceae (grass family) – p. 302  Graminoid, rhizomatous herbs or bamboos.  Stems terete or round.  Lvs open‐sheathing and linear.  Internodes typically hollow.  Fls small, lacking usual perianth, typically in spikelets agregated into larger paniculate inflorescences.  Fr a caryopsis.

Diagnostic Summary: Graminoid herbs with hollow, round stems, open‐sheathing leaves and tiny flowers in panicles of spikelets or spike‐like, and an indehiscent nut‐like called a caryopsis.

II. Monocot Genera to Know (you can write your own key to genera and use on lab final) A. Typhaceae – p. 183 6) Miscanthus (herbs) 1) Typha (aquatic herbs) 7) Panicum (herbs) B. Cyperaceae – p. 193 8) Phragmites (herbs) 2) (herbs) 9) Phyllostachys (woody “shrubs” or 3) Carex (herbs) “trees”; “bamboos”) C. Juncaceae – p. 183 10) Poa (herbs) 4) Juncus (aquatic to terrestrial herbs) 11) Setaria (herbs) D. Poaceae or Gramineae – p. 302 12) Zea (herbs) 5) Digitaria (herbs)

III. Some Economic Botany  Poaceae is the source of civilizations top food plants: wheat (Triticum spp.), rice (Oryza sativa), maize or corn (Zea mays), oats (Avena), barley (Hordeum vulgare), and sugar cane (Saccharum officinale). Numerous other plants provide ground cover (i.e., Kentucky bluegrass, Bermuda grass, etc.) or ornamentals. Bamboos (e.g., of the genus Bambusa and others such as Phyllostachys) provide construction materials or ornamentals.  The stem pith of Cyperus (Cyperaceae) was the raw material in the production of Egyptian papyrus paper. In fact, our word “paper” comes from “papyrus.” Page 1 of 1