Download Parts of the grass plant stem and leaf

Turf grass identification guide
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Parts of the grass plant stem and leaf
The diagram opposite shows the parts of the grass plant in the area of the stem.
Parts of note and aids to identification are
1. The auricle- very few grasses in sports turf
have an auricle. The main grass that does is
the grass Lolium perenne (Perennial Rye
Grass).
2. The ligule, this thin membrane can be of
limited help when grasses are mown short.
However the fact that some grasses have
very distinctive ligules that are hairy of
ragged can aid identification.
Below- Close up view of internodal area
Growth habits of grasses
Turf grasses have 3 types of growth habit, these are
1. Tufted or Bunchy
growth habit
The grass does not
creep sideways.
2. Creeping growth
spreading by
underground rhizomes
(creeping stems)
3. Creeping growth
habit, spreading by
above ground stolons
(creeping stems).
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Note some grasses may have more than one type of growth habit.
A brief and simple guide to the botanical naming system
To understand the botanical naming system we should look at a single type of grass
commonly used in sports turf, “Agrostis capillaris BarKing” this is the botanical
name for a cultivar of Browntop bent.
The first part of the name (Agrostis) is known as the “Genus”. A genus is a group of
plants that share similar characteristics. There are many different types of Agrostis
(bent grasses) but all have flat finely veined leaf blades that taper to a sharp point.
This means that if we want to buy and use Agrostis capillaris (Brown top bent) we
must be able to separate it out from all the other bents available for sale.
Fortunately biologists have helped us by separating all the bents into what are
known as species. This helps us identify one bent grass from another. The species
of brown top bent is “capillaris”.
This separation into different species is based on small differences in a group of
plants within a genus. For example 2 commonly used bents in sports turf are
a. Browntop bent (Agrostis capillaris)
b. Creeping bent (Agrostis stolonifera).
These look very similar to each other but there are small differences in growth habit
that make them different species.
The last part of the example grass is the name e.g. “BarKing”. This is the cultivar,
grasses are valuable plants and breeders who can develop better strains of grass
can make a lot of money.
Therefore plant breeders are continually improving grasses by selective breeding.
For example a breeder might grow a trail plot of one grass type and then infect it
with a common turf disease. The grasses that survive might be naturally more
resistant to the disease and if bred might retain or increase this resistance. This
would make the grass commercially valuable to the breeder and very useful to the
sports turf manager.
Plant breeders are continually improving grasses and as they do so they can name
their new products by giving them a new cultivar name. This will normally be in
English.
Each year the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) tests all the grass cultivars and
publishes their results. Turf Managers should evaluate the new cultivars to see
which are best for use in their particular situation.
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The results of these tests can be found in the Turf grass seed hand book, published
each year which can be found at http://www.bspb.co.uk
NVQ Level 2 Sports Turf
Grass
Tolerance of
Salt
pH
Creeping
bent
Creeping red
fescue
Perennial Rye
Yes
No
5.5- No
6.5
4.5- No
5.5
6-8 Slight
Smooth stalk
meadow
grass
Timothy
No
6-7
Chewings
fescue
Yes
Shade
Heavy
wear
No
Seed identification
Grass seeds are very distinctive and
easy to identify. This is mainly done by
size. However the shape and the ends
of the seed are also aids to seed
Smooth stalk meadow grass seed
identification
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
4.5- No
5.5
No
Common seed mixes
Site
80% Chewings fescue
20% Browntop bent
or
100% Creeping bent
60% Chewings fescue
20% Slender creeping red fescue
10% Browntop bent
10% Smooth stalk meadow grass
50% Chewings fescue
20% Strong creeping red fescue
10% Browntop bent
10% Smooth stalk meadow grass
Golf
green
Fescue seed
Golf tee
Bent seed
Golf
Fairway
Perennial Rye Grass seed
The largest of the seeds. It is boat shaped and the
back of the seed appears to be cut away.
Fescue seed
This seed is long and thin with a hair (awn) sticking
Perennial Rye
out of the thinnest end.
Smooth stalked meadow grass seed.
A small seed that is triangular in cross section.
When rolled between finger and thumb you can feel
each side of the seed.
Bent grasses
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These are
very small seeds that stick to the skin.
identification.doc
They are quite round in cross section and almost
tear shaped.
Parts of the grass plant that can be used as a key to identification
The diagram below represents the parts of the grass plant that can be used as an
aid to identification. The most important parts of the plant in identification are
1. The grass blade (most people would understand this as the leaf) the shape of
the leaf tip and the texture, colour and cross section shape are very
important in grass identification i.e. all Poas have boat shaped tips to the leaf
blade. The blade is very important when grasses are cut short.
2. The growth habit, the way the grass spreads (stolons/rhizomes) or does not
spread (tufted) is another vital aid in identification.
3. If the grass is not cut and is allowed to flower identification by use of the
flower spike is also very useful
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Turf Grass 1- Annual meadow grass (Poa annua)
Leaf tip -boat shaped
Other features of note are the
crimp marks on the leaves
Other aids to identification
Over view of the grass
Technically a weed grass it is present in
various amounts in most fine turf
surfaces. It can withstand close
mowing and can form a suitable
surface for golf greens etc.
Seed head
View of sward
However it is very susceptible to
drought stress and is easily attached
by a range of diseases.
The plant also produces seed heads all
year that can affect the smoothness of
ball roll.
It prefers moist, fertile soils and has
low wear tolerance
Overall view of plant
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Turf Grass 2- Chewings fescue (Festuca rubra commutata)
Leaf tip – Needle like
Other features of note are
The leaves are needle like and rolled.
Chewings fescue is non-creeping.
Other aids to identification
Uses
A widely used grass it produces a very
fine playing surface. It can be cut close
(to 5mm) before it starts to suffer.
It is used on most surfaces e.g. football,
hockey, golf tees, greens, roughs and
fairways as well as tennis and bowls etc.
It prefers dry, infertile soils and has
reasonable wear tolerance.
View of sward
View of full plant
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Turf Grass 3 Perennial rye- (Lolium perenne)
Leaf tip- pointed (note the back of the
leaf is very shiny)
Other features of note are
Base of plant is purple
Aids to identification
Uses
A very hard wearing grass that is
resistant to drought.
It is used in areas of high wear such
as football fields, golf tees and
roughs.
It will not tolerate close mowing and
grows best in moist fertile soils.
View of sward
View of full plant
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Turf Grass 4- Smooth Stalk Meadow grass (Poa pratensis)
Leaf tip- Boat shaped
Other features of note are
Smooth stalk meadow grass produces
rhizomes (underground stems).
Aids to identification
Uses
A hard wearing grass that withstand
wear. It is reasonably drought
resistant.
It is used in areas such as football
fields, cricket outfields, golf tees and
fairways.
http://www.greencast.co.uk
Also leaves have a pale grey/green colour.
View of sward
Its ability to self-repair via rhizomes
makes it very useful on areas that
suffer from divot damage.
View of plant
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Turf Grass 5- Brown top bent (Agrostis capillaris)
Leaf tip- Sharply pointed
Other features of note are
Has both rhizomes and stolons (creeps
above and below ground).
Aids to identification
Uses
Browntop bent is used widely in sports
turf. It has an extremely fine leaf when
closely mown which gives a fast playing
surface.
Leaf blades taper to a sharp point. Leaf
colour is dull green.
The leaf surface is finely veined on the
upper surface.
View of sward
It is often mixed with Chewings fescue to
produce surfaces for golf greens, bowling
greens etc.
As it has both rhizomes and stolons it
can self-repair on areas that damaged. It
can be mown to 5mm.
View of plant
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Turf Grass 6- Creeping bent (Agrostis stolonifera)
Leaf tip- Sharply tapers to a point
Other features of note are
This grass has very fine leaves that
taper to a sharp point.
It also produces extensive amounts
of stolons (over ground creeping
stems).
Aids to identification
Very fine leaves that taper to a sharp point.
Presence of stolons (over ground creeping
stems).
Uses
Creeping bent is used widely in
sports turf. It has an extremely fine
leaf when closely mown which gives
a fast playing surface.
It is often used to produce surfaces
for golf greens, bowling greens etc.,.
As it produces stolons it can selfrepair on areas that damaged.
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New cultivars of this grass can
survive mowing at very low heights
of cut i.e. 3mm
View of sward
View of full plant
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