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Species Image Gallery (opens in a new window) |
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| THE GRASS FAMILY | ||||||||
| The grass family is economically and
ecologically important. Many of the world’s crops are products of
the grasses. In addition, grasses are represented in almost all terrestrial
ecosystems and are an important part of the natural food chain. The grasses have a set of structures unique to the family. These plants can be annual or perennial and are usually herbaceous. The roots are fibrous, but rhizomes or runners may be found in some species. The stems are solitary or tufted, and may be branched. The stems are round with hollow internodes and solid nodes. The leaves are basal or on the stem. The stem leaves are 2-ranked, meaning they are in two vertical rows and are sheathing at the base. A ligule is present where the leaf sheath and the blade meet. The florets are in spikelets which are then arranged into clusters called spikes, racemes, or panicles. The spikelets usually have two glumes at the base and may be one to several-flowered. Sometimes there are sterile florets, which may consist only of the palea and lemma, present above or below the fertile florets. The florets are usually perfect, meaning that they have both male and female parts. The lemma and palea are the two bracts that subtend each floret. The lemma may be awnless or awned from the tip or the back. Each fertile floret has between one and three stamens and one superior ovary with a feathery stigma. The fruit type is a caryopsis or grain and is unique to the grass family. |
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| RICHARDSON’S NEEDLEGRASS | ||||||||
| LATIN NAME: Achnatherum richardsonii | ||||||||
| WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? | ||||||||
| Richardson’s needlegrass grows up to 80 cm tall. This plant is tufted and the stems are erect. The leaves are mostly basal and are 1 to 3 mm wide with the margins rolled under. The leaves are rough to the tough because of stiff hairs. The inflorescence is branched and is 10 to 20 cm long. The branches are slender and spreading or drooping. The spikelets are rather large and contain only one flower. There is a hardened thickening at the base of the lemma that is both bearded and sharp-pointed. The glumes are about equal in length. The lemmas are about 5 mm long and enclose the palea. The lemma has a twice bent awn that is up to 3 cm long. | ||||||||
| WHERE DOES IT GROW? | ||||||||
| Richardson’s needlegrass grows in open prairies bordering woods or shrublands. | ||||||||
| WHERE IS IT FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN? | ||||||||
| This plant is found in southern and central Saskatchewan in the Cypress Upland, Moist Mixed Grassland, Aspen Parkland, Boreal Transition, and Mid-Boreal Upland ecoregions. | ||||||||
| WHY IS IT RARE? | ||||||||
| Richardson’s needlegrass is vulnerable because it is rare or uncommon in Saskatchewan and most local populations are small. No immediate threats are known but are possible in the future. | ||||||||
| HOW TO IDENTIFY RICHARDSON’S NEEDLEGRASS | ||||||||
| * Is the inflorescence open with the branches spreading
or drooping? * Is the awn twice bent? * Are the leaf margins rolled under? * Did you find in southern or central Saskatchewan? |
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| If you answered yes to all of these questions, you may have found Richardson’s needlegrass! | ||||||||
