GRASSES AND GRASSLIKE PLANTS OF UTAH A FIELD GUIDE Compiled by: Roger Banner Mindy Pratt James Bowns Credits Second Edition, Second Printing, October 2011 34 new plants included in this edition. This Field Guide is being produced in collaboration with the Utah Partners for Conservation and Development. Cover Photos: Top-left: Dr. James Bowns, Southern Utah University Top-right: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University Bottom-left: Sue Smith @ http://cals.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants Bottom-right: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University Edited by: Donna Falkenborg, USU Extension Communications Editor Produced by: Utah State University Extension Printed by: Utah State University Publication, Design and Production grasses. It is not a complete reference. Additional information on individual plants mayThis bepublication obtained isby a consultingField Guide references only; to be cited used orfor other quick experts. identification of common Publication Number: NR/Rangeland/2011-01pr Table of Contents Introduction i Terms for Grass Structure ii Inflorescence Types iii Grass Flower Structure iv Grass Diagrams Descriptions: Grasses Andropogoneae 17 1 (Bouteloua curtipendula) (Andropogon gerardii) • Sideoats Grama 18 • Big Bluestem 2 (Bouteloua eriopoda) (Andropogon hallii) • Black Grama 19 • Sand Bluestem 3 (Bouteloua gracilis) (Bothriochloa ischaemum) • Blue Grama 20 • Yellow Bluestem 4 (Cynodon dactylon) (Bothriochloa saccharoides) • Bermudagrass 21 • Silver Bluestem 5 (Dasyochloa pulchella) (Schizachyrium scoparium) • Fluffgrass 22 • Little Bluestem 6 (Distichlis spicata) (Sorghastrum nutans) • Inland Saltgrass 23 • Indiangrass 7 (Muhlenbergia porteri) (Sorghum halepense) • Bush Muhly 24 • Johnsongrass (Muhlenbergia pungens) Aristideae • Sandhill Muhly 25 8 (Pleuraphis jamesii) (Aristida purpurea) • Galleta 26 • Purple Threeawn (Pleuraphis rigida) Arundineae • Big Galleta 27 9 (Tridens muticus) (Phragmites australis) • Slim Tridens • Phragmites Danthonieae Bromeae 28 10 (Danthonia californica) (Bromus anomalus) • California Oatgrass 29 • Nodding Brome 11 (Schismus barbatus) (Bromus japonicus) • Mediterranean Grass • Japanese Brome 12 Eragrostideae (Bromus inermis) 30 • Smooth Brome 13 (Eragrostis cilianensis) (Bromus marginatus) • Stinkgrass • Mountain Brome 14 Meliceae (Bromus rubens) 31 • Red Brome 15 (Glyceria grandis) (Bromus tectorum) • American Mannagrass 32 • Cheatgrass (Glyceria striata) Cynodonteae • Fowl Mannagrass 33 16 (Melica bulbosa) (Blepharoneuron tricholepis) • Oniongrass • Pine Dropseed Paniceae 59 34 (Poa bulbosa) (Echinochloa crus-galli) • Bulbous Bluegrass 60 • Barnyardgrass 35 (Poa fendleriana) (Panicum capillare) • Muttongrass 61 • Witchgrass 36 (Poa pratensis) (Panicum obtusum) • Kentucky Bluegrass 62 • Vine Mesquite 37 (Poa secunda) (Panicum virgatum) • Sandberg Bluegrass 63 • Switchgrass 38 (Polypogon monspeliensis) (Setaria viridis) • Rabbitsfoot Grass 64 • Green Bristlegrass (Puccinellia distans) Poeae • Weeping Alkaligrass 65 39 (Trisetum spicatum) (Agrostis exarata) • Spike Trisetum 66 • Spike Bentgrass 40 (Vulpia octoflora) (Agrostis gigantea) • Sixweeks Fescue • Redtop 41 Stipeae (Alopecurus arundinaceus) 67 • Garrison Creeping Foxtail 42 (Achnatherum hymenoides) (Alopecurus pratensis) • Indian Ricegrass 68 • Meadow Foxtail 43 (Achnatherum lettermanii) (Arrhenatherum elatius) • Letterman’s Needlegrass 69 • Tall Oatgrass 44 (Achnatherum nelsonii) (Avena fatua) • Columbia Needlegrass 70 • Wild Oats 45 (Achnatherum thurberianum) (Beckmannia syzigachne) • Thurber’s Needlegrass 71 • American Sloughgrass 46 (Hesperostipa comata) (Calamagrostis canadensis) • Needle-and-Thread • Bluejoint Reedgrass 47 Triticeae (Catabrosa aquatica) 72 • Brookgrass 48 (Aegilops cylindrical) (Dactylis glomerata) • Jointed Goatgrass 73 • Orchardgrass 49 (Agropyron cristatum) (Deschampsia cespitosa) • Crested Wheatgrass 74 • Tufted Hairgrass 50 (Elymus elymoides) (Festuca idahoensis) • Bottlebrush Squirreltail 75 • Idaho Fescue 51 (Elymus glaucus) (Festuca ovina) • Blue Wildrye 76 • Sheep Fescue 52 (Elymus lanceolatus) (Festuca thurberi) • Thickspike Wheatgrass 77 • Thurber’s Fescue 53 (Elymus repens) (Hierochloe odorata) • Quackgrass 78 • Sweetgrass 54 (Elymus trachycaulus) (Koeleria macrantha) • Slender Wheatgrass 79 • Praire Junegrass 55 (Eremopyrum triticeum) (Leucopoa kingii) • Annual Wheatgrass 80 • Spike Fescue 56 (Hordeum jubatum) (Phalaris arundinacea) • Foxtail Barley 81 • Reed Canarygrass 57 (Hordeum pussillum) (Phleum alpinum) • Little Barley 82 • Alpine Timothy 58 (Leymus cinereus) (Phleum pretense) • Great Basin Wildrye • Timothy 83 Juncaginaceae (Leymus salinus) 105 • Salina Wildrye 84 (Triglochin maritima) (Pascopyrum smithii) • Arrowgrass • Western Wheatgrass 85 Typhaceae (Psathrostachys junceus) 106 • Russian Wildrye 86 (Typha domingensis) (Pseudoroegneria spicata) • Southern Cattail 107 • Bluebunch Wheatgrass 87 (Typha latifolia) (Secale cereale) • Broadleaf Cattail • Cereal Rye 88 Glossary 108 (Taeniatherum caput-edusae) Index 111 • Medusahead 89 References Cited 117 (Thinopyrum intermedium) Notes 120 • Intermediate Wheatgrass 90 (Thinopyrum ponticum) • Tall Wheagrass Zoysieae 91 (Calamovilfa gigantea) • Giant Sandreed 92 (Spartina gracilis) • Alkali Cordgrass 93 (Sporobolus airoides) • Alkali Sacaton 94 (Sporobolus contractus) • Spike Dropseed 95 (Sporobolus cryptandrus) • Sand Dropseed 96 (Sporobolus flexuosus) • Mesa Dropseed Grass-Likes Cyperaceae 97 (Carex aquatilis) • Water Sedge 98 (Carex geyeri) • Elk Sedge 99 (Carex nebrascensis) • Nebraska Sedge 100 (Carex rostrata) • Beaked Sedge 101 (Eleocharis palustris) • Common Spikerush 102 (Schoenoplectus acutus) • Hardstem Bulrush 103 (Schoenoplectus maritimus) • Alkali Bulrush Juncaceae 104 (Juncus arcticus) • Baltic Rush Introduction This guide is meant to serve as a help in identifying many of the grasses and grass-like plants common to the rangelands, forests, and farmlands of Utah. It is not an exhaustive guide to the plants contained herein, nor is it a comprehensive summary of all the grasses and grass-like plants in Utah. Using This Guide: This guide is divided into two main divisions. First is the Grasses, and closelysecond, related the Grass-likes. species near The to Grasses each other, are organized making it first easier by totribe, distinguish and second by scientific name. This will enable users of the guide to find area particular colored tabsspecies. within The the grass-likes guide to distinguish are divided tribes first by and family, families, and andsecond there by scientificis also a comprehensive name, also keeping index like at thespecies end oftogether. the book There to further aid users in locating species. Each page provides the following information: Photo Page: Photos of species and specific traits to help with Commonidentification. Name: The most frequently used common name of a species. Scientific Name: PLANTS Database. The most recent scientific name, according to the Symbol: The NRCS plant symbol (from PLANTS Database). Description: A description of the vegetative and reproductive Distributioncharacteristics and of the Habitat: plant to A aiddescription in identification. of the environment in which the grass or grass-like occurs. General Information: An explanation of any intrinsic values a plant has, and may include values for livestock, wildlife, erosion control, medicinal purposes, etc. Name Synonyms: Many grasses and grass-likes have multiple names. The most common is listed at the top of the page, and those less common are listed in this section. i Terms for Grass Structure Stems and Leaves Roots and Modified Stems Fibrous Roots Rhizomes Stolons Cheatgrass Roots, Phragmites Rhizomes, Ohio State Bermudagrass Stolons, Dr. Roger Banner, Weed Lab, Ohio State University, Dr. Steve Dewey, Utah State USU Extension Bugwood.org University, Bugwood.org Rhizome: Stolon: A below ground, modified stem, new shoots at nodes. ii An above ground, modified stem, new shoots at nodes. Inflorescence Types The inflorescence is the arrangement and attachment of spikelets on reproductive culms. The four main types are shown here. Spike Spikate Raceme S=Spikelet CA=Central Axis P=Peduncle PS=Pedicellate spikelet UL=Uppermost leaf Raceme Panicle iii Grass Flower Structure inflorescence which is made of spikelets. Spikelets in turn are composed of The grass flowerflorets structure, and florets begins contain with the the flowers. Flower Spikelet Lemma Floret Palea Floret Stigma Stamen Spikelet Inflorescence Lodicule Flower Spikelet: Spikelet A pair Diagram of glumes (bracts)Floret: plus on or more florets. Awn leaves (bracts), the lemma and Flower plus 2 modified Rachilla Palea Flower:palea, that Small, enclose consisting the flower. of an ovary with 2 plumose stigmas, 2 Floret Lemma stamens, no petals. Outer Glume Pedicel iv Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) Above: © 2007 Trent Draper Right and below: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University Top right, above, & below: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii ANGE Description: Big bluestem is a robust, native, warm season perennial grass, often with scaly rhizomes, that grows 2′ – 8′ tall and bluish in appearance. The inflorescence is a panicle of 2-6 digitate or subdigitate racemose primary branches, 2″-3 ½″ long. The inflorescence usually has three branches which has led to the name “turkeyfoot.” Spikelets are paired, nearly equal in length, lower spikelet is sessile and perfect, upper spikelet sterile or staminate. The beard-like hairs on the internodes