Look for the Identifying Parts

Turfgrass Identification
Richard Miller
Blackhawk Technical College
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Introduction
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Approx. 10,000 species worldwide, 190
species in 64 genera in Wisconsin.
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5 desirable grasses thrive as aggressive and
attractive “ground covers” in this northern
cool humid region of the United States
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Primary to Understanding/Managing Turf we
Must be able to Identify these 5 Common
GRASSES
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Frequently Asked Questions
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What are our Choices?
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What Do We Need to Know to Get
Started?
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Do we need any equipment?
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What is the procedure?
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What are our choices?
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How a Botanist would classify (Taxonomy)…
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What Do We Need to Get Started?
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A Close-up view
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Do we need any Equipment?
A Magnifying Glass Could
Be Helpful
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What is the Procedure?
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Select
a single
plant
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Look
for the Identifying Parts
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Overview
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There will be differences in how these
parts appear or whether they appear or not.
Rhizomes
Ligule
s
Auricles
Stolon Vernation Leaf
s
Tip
Sheath
Colla
Midrib
r
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Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis)
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Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis)
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Boat Shaped Tip
Folded vernation
Ligule: Short,
Membranous
(Lacking)
2 Transparent
Lines Along
Midrib
Rhizomes
Auricles absent
Collar Broad &
Divided
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Vocabulary
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Glossary of terms
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Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne)
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Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne)
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Pointed Tip, shiny
backside to Blade
Folded Vernation
Ligule: Short,
Membranous
Auricle: Small,
Claw-like, or
Absent
Broad, Divided
Collar
Bunch Type ( no
Stolons or
Rhizomes)
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Fine Fescues (creeping red, hard,
chewings); Festuca ssp.
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Fine Fescues (hard,creeping
red, chewings); Festuca ssp.
Tip is narrow,
blade is fine
 Folded Vernation
 Ligule: very
small
membranous
 Auricles: absent
 No collar
 Bunch Type ex.
Creeping may
have Rhizomes
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Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea)
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Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea)
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Broad leaf blade ,
prominent veins on
upper surface
Rolled vernation
Membranous
Ligule
Small Auricles
Collar is very
broad and
conspicuous
Bunch type, may
have small
rhizomes
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Bentgrasses (creeping, colonial);
Agrostis ssp.
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Bentgrass (Agrostis ssp.)
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Tip pointed,
prominent veination
Rolled vernation
Membranous
Ligule(.5mm-2mm)
Auricle: absent
Narrow, broad oblique
collar on Creeping
bent.-none on
Colonial
Creeping=stolons
Colonial=bunch,
tufted, very short
stolons & rhizomes
may be present
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Test Yourself on Pictures!
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5
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Answers
1.
Perennial Ryegrass
2.
Fine Fescue
3.
Kentucky Bluegrass
4.
Tall Fescue
5.
Creeping Bentgrass
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Some Useful Shortcuts
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Expect fine textures to be either Fescues or
Bentgrasses…Fescues are more shade tolerant,
Bentgrasses are very aggressive and are not very
shade tolerant
The most likely (non-weed) Rhizomatous grass
will be Kentucky Bluegrass
Using a process of “likely elimination”- you are
possibly going to decide between Tall Fescue and
Perennial Rye (both are bunch grasses) when
vernation (Per. Rye is folded) and leaf blade (Per.
Rye has a shiny backside) are the differences.
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Summary
We have learned that there are distinct
differences in grass plant morphology if
we look close enough
 Knowing the correct identity of our
turfgrasses helps us properly manage our
lawns, parks and sportsturf and/or advise
our clients
 Practice, Practice, Practice…Correct
identification requires repetition
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Where to Get More Information
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Blackhawk Technical College- Landscape and
Turf Services Program
Books: i.e. Fundamentals of Turfgrass
Management by Dr. Nick Christians; Turfgrass
Management, latest edit. By A.J. Turgeon;
Turfgrass Science and Management by Robert
Emmons
Trade Publication articles
Electronic sources: i.e.
www.sportsturfmanager.org
University of Wisconsin – Extension
Publications
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