Andrea B. Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Can anyone get me started on identifying this grass?I know nothing about grasses.This specimen has a very nice UV signature. Thank you. Vis UV, cropped only. Not yet colour corrected. Link to comment
nfoto Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 You are looking in the wrong family. This belongs to the Cyperaceae or Sedge Family. Link to comment
Andrea B. Posted July 4, 2013 Author Share Posted July 4, 2013 Thank you. That will get me started !! My printed Colorado flora covers "grasses". I was using "grass" in a non-technical sense. Grass, the green stuff that cows eat. Link to comment
nfoto Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Good grief. Cows won't eat this stuff. It'll cut their tongues. So will you when you mix two families that different. Try Carex as a starting point. Link to comment
Andrea B. Posted July 5, 2013 Author Share Posted July 5, 2013 Stems jointed, hollow.Poaceae (True Grass Family)annual or perennial herbsjointed, round, hollow stems which are solid at jointslinear, parallel-veined leavesleaves 2-ranked, alternatetiny flowers borne betweenpalea = small, scale-like inner bractlemma = larger outer bract[*]filaments attach to middle of anthers[*]floret = flower + lemma + palea[*]florets supported by 2 bracts (glumes) [OK, I know what they mean.][*]flowers arranged in spikelets = florets + glumes[*]leaves of most grasses clasp the stemNear the clasp might beauricles = 2 ear-like lobesligule = membranous, open, collar-like flap or sheath [i know what they mean!!!][*]Stems unjointed, solid.Stems usually 3 sided.Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)usually perennial, often rhizomatouspartial to wet placessolid, unjointed stems that are triangular in cross-sectionleaves 3-ranked, spirally arrangedsheaths usually closed, margins fusedfilaments attach to end of antherflowers arranged in spikelets, dense clustersmany sedges have sharp cutting edges on the leaves, some are minutely sawtoothed[*]Stems usually cylindrical.Juncaceae (Rush Family)usually perennial with rhizomessolid (pithy), unjointed stems that are circular in cross-section tiny flowers that resemble minature brown lilies [What ? Tiny brown lilies ??]flower has 2 series of 3 scale-like floral bractsfruits are small 1- or 3- chambered capsulesGrass jointed hollow, palea/lemma/glume spikelet, filamentCenterAntherSedge unjointed solid, sharp, spikelet filamentEndAnther Link to comment
Andrea B. Posted July 5, 2013 Author Share Posted July 5, 2013 OK, I now know that the ornamental blue thing I bought is a grass-grassbecause I see a solid stemmed spikelet with lemma/palea/glume stuff. I found a short-leaved grass-grass growing in my Herb Garden which had joints and sheaths. The very long bladed invasive thing in my Herb Garden, I could not yet figure out.I couldn't find a stem. I guess they are not there yet?I had thought this was a weed called "nut grass" (a sedge).But the leaves seem not to be in threes. They seem sharp-ish.They are parallel veined. There is no tuber in the roots when I pulled them out.Still too young maybe? I will have to let one of these go to flower to figure it out. It started getting dark out, so I had to postpone learning grasses until tomorrow.It's now time to tend to the Kitteh who needs to be brought in from the porchand coaxed to eat. Link to comment
nfoto Posted July 5, 2013 Share Posted July 5, 2013 Look closely at a flowering Juncus and you'll see the description is apt. The tiny flowers appear as a lily only scaled down 10 times or more. Colours of the perianth usually are brownish, sometimes white. Congratulations on your monocot exploration. Plenty of interesting stuff and gems to be dug out there. Link to comment
Andrea B. Posted July 5, 2013 Author Share Posted July 5, 2013 Thank you!! I have always wanted to learn a bit about grasses, sedges and rushes. I had thought that perhaps I could not stuff any more botancal facts into my head, but apparently we can soak up endless amounts of knowledge - with some study of course. So I'm going to have a try. At least I will be able to separate the three things I see most often into their Orders - when they are in bloom. That's a start.And there's plenty around here to learn from. Link to comment
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