Annual
Biennial - grows, reproduces, & dies over a two-year period
Perennial - live & reproduce indefinitely, may have periods of dormancy
Description: Long central root w/ smaller secondary roots extending out
Description: Many long, branching roots w/ smaller secondary roots extending out
Description: Roots formed from areas of the plant other than the root meristem, generally from the stem
Description: Horizontal stem that forms beneath the ground & sends up shoots above ground & roots below ground
Description: Large carbohydrate-rich storage organ that forms beneath the ground
Description: Horizontal stem that extends runners above ground that produce new plants w/ complete shoots and roots which produce more runners
Description: Large storage organ that forms beneath the ground comprised of a small stem surrounded by layers of fleshy storage leaves
Lanceolate leaf
Linear leaf
Elliptic leaf
Oblong leaf
Obovate leaf
Orbicular leaf
Spatulate leaf
Obovate leaf
Reniform leaf
Palmatisect leaf
Palmitifide leaf
Pedate leaf
Pinnate leaf
Bipinnate leaf
Tripinnate leaf
Pinnatifid leaf
Obcordate leaf
Trifoliate leaf
Multifide leaf
Palmately Compound
Perfoliate leaf
Leaves grow on a single side of the stem per node
Leaves grow on both sides of the stem per node
A ring of leaves that forms around the base of the stem
A ring of leaves that forms along the stem
Description: Round leaf margin
Description: Crinkled leaf margin
Description: Saw-like leaf margin
Description: Leaflets coming off the end of a single leaf petiole
Description: Leaflets branching out along the length of a single leaf petiole
Description: Stem growing straight up
Description: Stem grows up along a surface using tendrils
Description: Stem grows up a surface by wrapping around it
Description: Stems growing up & out
Description: Stems growing out horizontally but curve up at the ends
Description: Stems growing out horizontally along the ground
Because the leaves and flowers of grasses can often look similar to one another, being able to identify the unique anatomical features that can be used to differentiate between the various grass genera and species is important.
Description: A spike or bristle extending off grass seeds found in some grass species
Description: Leaf of a grass plant
Description: Covered in hairs
l Description: Completely lacking hairs
Description: Area at base of leaf that wraps around the stem of grass plant
Description: Membrane or fringe of hairs near the area where the leaf sheath & blade meet (called the collar)
Description: Extension at base of leaf blade present in some grass species; adjacent to collar between blade and sheath
Description: Type of flower where flower clusters are attached to stem by branchlets connected to branches coming off the stem
Description: T ype of flower where flower clusters are attached to stem by branches connected to the stem
Description: Type of flower where flower clusters are attached directly to stem
References: Weeds of the South by Charles T. Bryson and Michael S. DeFelice, Weeds of the Northeast by Richard H. Uva, Joseph C. Neal, and Joseph M. DiTomaso
Leaf shape diagrams: Wikimedia
