Download T d C i f Types and Categories of Range Plants

Types andd Categories
T
C
i off
Range Plants
Plants are the "ultimate"
ultimate source of
organic energy in ecosystems
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Plants produce their through Photosynthesis:
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Get raw material from soil.
When leaves are removed from plants, foodproducing capacity is reduced.
Therefore, we manage amount of “photosynthetic
material” on plant
To manage we must understand biotic and
abiotic influences on photosynthesis
Growth Forms of Rangeland Plants
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4 major
j growthh forms:
f
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Grasses
G
Grass-like
lik
Forbs
Sh b
Shrubs
Grasses
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Most important and abundant kind of range
plant (Cover more than 20% of the earth’s land surface)
Jointed stems
Stems are hollow between
the joints (nodes)
L
Leaves
are in
i 2 rows along
l
the
th stem
t
Veins in the leaves are parallel
Grass-like Plants
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Look like grasses but have solid stems
without joints
Stems are often triangular
Veins in the leaves are parallel
Includes sedges and rushes
www.sitkanature.org/1000species/?cat=5
Forbs
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Herbaceous plants
Broad leaves and showy
y flowers
Above-ground growth dies back each year
Veins in the leaves are net veins
although some forbs have
veins that are parallel
Range wildflowers and weeds
Shrubs
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Woody plants with several main stems
Usually
y have broad leaves
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Browse = portion of woody plant eaten as forage (young
stems and leaves)
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Mast = fruit, nuts, and seeds
Weed
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Any plant that grows where it is not wanted or
interferes with the growth of desirable plants.
The term “weed” is usually reserved for
plants that have a persistent and aggressive
growth habits.
Noxious Weed
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Those designated by a county, state, or federal
government as requiring control.
I
Invasive
i plants
l
that
h have
h
been
b
specifically
ifi ll
identified as “noxious” by state law
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35 Noxious Weeds in Idaho
Life Span
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Length of time from the beginning of
development to death of the plant
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Annuals – live for one growing season
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Winter annuals
Summer annuals
Biennials – live for two growing seasons
Perennials – live from one year to the next
Winter Annuals
Summer
plant dies
Spring
Fall
germinate
produce seed
Winter
dormant
Summer Annuals
Summer
grow
S i
Spring
Fall
germinate
produce seed
Winter
plant dies
Biennials
Spring
Summer & Fall
Winter
germinate
go dormant
ormant
produce rosette & developed roots
Spring
Winter
plant dies
Summer
produce
d
fl
flowering
i stalk
lk
produce seed
Perennials
produce seed
build up root reserves
flower
1st Winter
go dormant
go dormant
d
t
2nd Spring
new plant from root
germinate
build up root reserves
flower
produce seed
Summer
Cycle continues until
plant eventually dies
Origin
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Area where the plant evolved
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Native plants – originated in North America
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Introduced plants – Intentionally or accidentally
b
brought
h to North
hA
America
i
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Naturalized
Nat
rali ed = introduced
introd ced plants that are adapted to the
climate in which they live and require no external
inputs to survive. A good example is Crested
Wheatgrass
Lignification
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Herbaceous = non-woody plant
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Plant dies back to ground each year
All annuals are herbaceous
Grasses and forbs are herbaceous
Woody = plants with lignified stems including
trees and shrubs
Suffrutescent = plant with woody base but
herbaceous stems that die back to ground
every year.
Season of Growth
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Cool Season
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Make most growth in cool weather of spring and
fall
Flower mostly in early summer
Provide spring/fall forage at lower elevations and
summer forage at high elevations
Adapted to cool, wet conditions
Most plants in Idaho
Season of Growth
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Warm Season
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Make most growth in warm summer periods
Flower from mid-summer to early fall
Provide forage in summer months
Adapted to hotter, drier conditions
Some of the warm regions
g
of Idaho have a few
warm season plants
Season of Growth
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Evergreen
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Plant that retain leave throughout year
Usually woody plants
Generally are “cool season” plants (remember,
they photosynthesize in winter)
Important forage during drought and winte
Forage Value
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How well a plant provides nutrients to grazing
animals
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High – plants that are nutritious, palatable, and
produce abundant forage
M di
Medium
– plants
l
that
h provide
id adequate
d
nutrition
i i if
eaten
Low – plants that do not provide adequate nutrients
Poisonous - contain natural plant compounds that are
toxic or p
poisonous to herbivores