BIOL 461 Agrostology Name: _________________________________ Systematics & Ecology Assignment Answer the following plant identification "riddles" based on the species introduced in the course. Write the common name on the line provided and scientific names (genus, species) underneath. (1 point each) _____________________________ 01. Attractive native species in Triticeae with a curving inflorescences with several florets per spikelet and long, curving awns. _____________________________ 02. Diminutive introduced annual that has 3 spikelets per node, but only the center one is fertile. The entire inflorescence breaks up late season. _____________________________ 03. Short-statured native hermaphroditic perennial with curly leaves and an unusual one-sided inflorescence; favors dry prairies. _____________________________ 04. Non-native polyploid with very long awns. This taxon is an important grain crop, and able to hybridize with many members of its tribe. _____________________________ 05. Native perennial in the tribe Zoysieae that forms dense stands in wet areas of our region; leaves have sharp margins and may cut your skin! _____________________________ 06. A widespread native bunchgrass that has three-awned lemmas and is often red when young. Sharp-tipped florets and abrasive awns make this species unappealing to both livestock and wildlife. _____________________________ 07. Weedy non-native perennial with rhizomes, closed sheath, and a panicle of “fish scale-like” spikelets; this species is very common along roadsides and in pastures across our region. _____________________________ 08. Native grass with dorsal compression and hairy sheaths/leaves that behaves like a weed—inflorescences break off and become tumbleweeds. _____________________________ 09. Rhizomatous grass with very tall robust stems, fuzzy inflorescences, and a wide geographic distribution (including 2x, 4x, 6x, 8x populations). European varieties of this species are aggressive weeds in North America. _____________________________ 10. Introduced perennial with bulblets forming in the inflorescence as well as small bulbs at the plant base, enabling asexual propagation. Total: _____ / 10 1 Cont'd, answer plant identification "riddles" based on species introduced in the course. _____________________________ 11. A native annual, this low-growing relative of Setaria is found in sandy areas and has prickly reproductive parts that stick to fur and socks. _____________________________ 12. Short and drought tolerant grass with 30-50 short spikes that are characteristically clustered to one side of the stem. Native species that persists in dry prairies of western South Dakota. _____________________________ 13. Short grass with a characteristic dense, flattened and comb-like inflorescence. This is a common invasive in dry prairie that greens-up early in the season, and thus is sometimes desirable as livestock forage. _____________________________ 14. Dioecious and awnless grass that exhibits strong lateral compression, extensive rhizomatous growth, and tough leaves; this is a widespread species that favors saline and alkaline soils. _____________________________ 15. Tall, monoecious crop species with C4 photosynthesis that was domesticated from wild ancestors in Mexico >9,000 years ago. _____________________________ 16. Native grass that grows in tufts and resides in open, sandy places; it has diffuse panicles with one floret per spikelet and hairy lemmas. _____________________________ 17. Non-native grass with closed sheaths and panicle inflorescence with clustered spikelets, giving it a clumpy appearance. This self-incompatible taxon is comprised of diploid and tetraploid populations. _____________________________ 18. Tall-statured native perennial comprised of hexaploid and octoploid plants in our region. A keystone grass of tallgrass prairies, this species has a rame inflorescence with a characteristic "turkey-foot" appearance. _____________________________ 19. Drought-resistant grass in the subfamily Panicoideae that was domesticated at least three times in Africa and is now a crop grown as a grain, sweetener, and biofuel; sometimes cultivated in South Dakota. _____________________________ 20. Annual, introduced grass that has a distinctive panicles of spikelet branches. This species favors damp, nutrient-rich locations; if you see this on or near a dirt road, beware—you may get stuck! _____________________________ 21. Early-flowering grass that remains green all year long; it occurs as clumps in pine forests of western South Dakota. Total: _____ / 11 2 Cont'd, answer plant identification "riddles" based on species introduced in the course. _____________________________ 22. This introduced grass has flattened culms and tan sheaths; it can be recognized from a distance by its alternating green/tan color on the stem. _____________________________ 23. Common native prairie species that is fuzzy and often reddish; the sessile spikelet is awned and the other unawned and staminate or sterile. The entire inflorescence breaks up on this species. _____________________________ 24. Member of the Andropogoneae with a fertile sessile spikelet and missing pedicellate spikelet. Although native to western South Dakota, it is more common in tallgrass prairies to the east. _____________________________ 25. Tall non-native grass with extremely fuzzy inflorescence that in our region is most often found cultivated in gardens or landscaping. In other regions can be an invasive that forms monocultures. _____________________________ 26. Grain crop that originated in Europe; now grown in temperate areas for human and livestock food. Generally not hairy, and may be awned or unawned—if awns present they are not bent or twisted. _____________________________ 27. Native perennial with a conspicuously hairy rachilla and callus; this species is generally found near water and is known to exhibit apomixis. _____________________________ 28. Stoloniferous native perennial that is dioecious, very low-growing, and has curly leaves. This species favors very dry soils and is intolerant of shade; sometimes planted as a native lawn grass. _____________________________ 29. Annual non-native grass that is extremely weedy; it dries in late summer and increases wildfire risks. This species has closed sheaths, notched lemmas, and strong lateral compression. _____________________________ 30. Native perennial with a characteristic stout awn; spikelets look like The Batman’s head. Widespread in the northern Great Plains (including w. South Dakota) and sometimes forming cleiostogamous flowers. _____________________________ Bonus. Native monecious perennial that grows in the margins of rivers and lakes and is sometimes harvested as a grain. It occurs in eastern South Dakota but is much more common in Minnesota. Total: _____ / 10 3 Answer the following identification "riddles" for grass subfamilies introduced in class. (1 point each) _____________________________ 31. Primitive grass subfamily comprised of rhizomatous perennials in tropical America. Members of this subfamily have pseudopetioles, missing glumes, four stamens, and large fruits. _____________________________ 32. This pantropical subfamily disarticulates above the glumes and contains only one tribe—and only one genus occurs in North America. _____________________________ 33. Most common in tropical and warm temperate regions, this group includes economically important crops such as sorghum and sugar cane. Both C3 and C4 photosynthesis occur in this group. _____________________________ 34. Subfamily of the BOP clade that is comprised of perennials with pseudopetioles and variable anther numbers; has a wide geographic distribution. Includes two tribes, one of which is “woody.” _____________________________ 35. Monoecious perennials from tropical America that have glumes. _____________________________ 36. Subfamily of rhizomatous perennials from tropical Africa that have pseudopetioles and glumes; contains 2 genera. _____________________________ 37. Characterized by C3 photosynthesis and allied with Bambusoideae and Pooideae. Rice is a member of this subfamily. _____________________________ 38. Characterized by C3 photosynthesis and found in the PACMAD clade. This subfamily includes some extremely tall members. _____________________________ 39. Subfamily with C3 photosynthesis that is found primarily in the southern hemisphere; one stoutly-awned resident of western South Dakota that was introduced in lecture is a member of this subfamily. _____________________________ 40. This subfamily with primarily C4 photosynthesis is most common in dry, temperate grasslands. The tribe Zoysieae is found in this group. _____________________________ Bonus. Large group of cool season, C3 grasses that are very dominant in western South Dakota (and many parts of the northern hemisphere). Member of the BOP clade. Total: _____ / 10 4 Identify the grasses shown with line art from the list of 28 species below (some species may not be used). (1 point each) Acnatherum hymenoides (Indian Ricegrass) Panicum capillare (Witchgrass) Agrostis gigantea (Redtop) Panicum virgatum (Switchgrass) Alopecurus aequalis (Shortawn Foxtail) Pascopyrum smithii (Western Wheatgrass) Bromus inermis (Smooth Brome) Phleum pratense (Timothy) Bromus japonicus (Japanese Brome) Poa pratensis (Bluegrass) Dichanthelium oligosanthes (Few-flowered Panic Grass) Pseudoroegneria spicata (Bluebunch Wheatgrass) Elymus canadensis (Canada Wildrye) Puccinellia distans (Alkaligrass) Elymus repens (Quackgrass) Schizachne