Announcements

Final Exam: Monday, May 9 (10:10-12:10)

Open lab next week:

Tues. & Thurs.11-1, HS 204

Announcements

Final Exam: Monday, May 9 (10:10-12:10)

Open lab next week:

T/Th 11-1

Robert Wiltzen

Robert Wiltzen

Graminoid (grass-like) monocots

Poaceae (Grass family) Cyperaceae (Sedge family)

Juncaceae (Rush family)

Fruit type

caryopsis (grain)

similar to achene but ovary wall is fused to seed

Poaceae -- Grass Family

Poaceae -- Grass Family

In Montana

2nd largest family: 64 genera, 243 species

Agropyron spicatum -- Bluebunch Wheatgrass

also called Elymus spicatum and Pseudoroegneria spicata

Agropyron/Elymus -- Wheatgrass

- spikelets held close to stem- spikelets spaced out along spike- ligule and auricles obvious- stems clearly jointed

Festuca -- Fescue

Festuca -- Fescue

- thread-like (rolled) leaves- loose panicle of spikelets- no auricles - stem joints not apparent

Commelinoid (Graminoid) monocot families

Poaceae (Grass family) Cyperaceae (Sedge family)

Juncaceae (Rush family)

Worldwide

Widespread, mostly temperate and/or montane

~100 genera, 4500 species

Cyperaceae - Sedge family

Cyperus papyrus

In Montana

3rd largest family

9 genera, 175 species (>140 in 1 genus - Carex!)

Cyperaceae - Sedge family

Carex utriculata

Habitat

dominant in wetlands, moist alpine areas, and tundra

also in drier areas, both woods and grasslands

Cyperaceae - Sedge family

Habit

perennial herbs w/ corms or other underground storage

Cyperaceae - Sedge family

Eleocharis - Water Chestnut

Leaves/stems

stems triangular => “sedges have edges”

Cyperaceae - Sedge family

Leaves

Cyperaceae - Sedge family leaves 3-ranked leaf sheath closed

sedge grass

Inflorescences

Cyperaceae - Sedge family various arrangements of spikelets/spikes

Spikelets/spikes

Cyperaceae - Sedge family no glumes, often subtended by 1 large (leafy) bract

Flowers

Cyperaceae - Sedge family may be perfect (bisexual) or imperfect (unisexual)

M & FF

M

Carex

Flower => each flower subtended by a bract

Perianth

lacking or reduced to bristly scales

Stamens

3

Gynoecium

1 superior ovary

Cyperaceae - Sedge family

Fruit

achene

Cyperaceae - Sedge family

Sedges in Montana

Cyperus -- Galingale

Sedges in Montana

Eleocharis -- Spikerush

Sedges in Montana

Scirpus -- Bulrush

Carex - Sedges

- 140 species in Montana!!

- vegetative characters typical - diverse inflorescences

- flowers unisexual (male OR female)

Carex - Sedges

ovary surrounded by a special bract => perigynium

Worldwide

Widespread, mostly temperate and/or montane

~100 genera, 400 species

Juncaceae - Rush family

In Montana

2 genera, ~35 species

Habitat

Wetlands, often in standing water (Juncus)

Moist or dry alpine areas (Luzula and Juncus)

Juncaceae - Rush family

Stems

round and solid (never hollow and jointed like grasses)

Leaves

round OR grasslike

Juncaceae - Rush family

Luzula

Flowers

perfect (bisexual), radially symmetric

Tepals

6, somewhat showy

Stamens

6

Gynoecium

3 fused carpels

superior ovary

Juncaceae - Rush family

Fruit

capsule

Juncaceae - Rush family

Graminoid monocot families

Cyperaceae - sedges

triangular solid stems (usually)

spikelets

florets with 1 bract

Juncaceae - rushes

round, solid stems

flowers with 6 tepals and 6 stamens

Poaceae - grasses

round, jointed hollow stems

spikelets with glumes

florets with 2 bracts - lemma & palea (no tepals)

3 stamens, 2 carpels