Types and Categories of Range Plants

Types and Categories of Range Plants

Jen PetersonJen Peterson

Growth Forms of Rangeland Plants 4 major growth forms:

Grasses Grass-likes Forbs Shrubs

Jen Peterson

Grasses Most important and abundant kind of range

plant Cover more than 1/5th of the earth’s land surface

Jointed stems Stems are hollow between

the joints (nodes) Leaves are in 2 rows along the stem Veins in the leaves are parallel

Jen Peterson

Grasses No showy flowers All grasses are herbaceous (i.e., not woody) Size = very small to very large Great morphological variation

Poaceae family (the grass family)has 800 genera & 10,000 species

K. Launchbaugh

Grass-like Plants Look like grasses but have solid stems

without joints Stems are often triangular Veins in the leaves are parallel Includes sedges and rushes

www.livinglandscapes.bc.ca

Forbs Herbaceous plants Broad leaves and showy 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

K. Launchbaugh

Shrubs Woody plants with several main stems Usually have broad leaves

Jen Peterson K. Launchbaugh

Shrubs Efficiently use water - invade into grasslands Deep roots to tolerate xeric environments Defenses against grazing:

Chemical Physical Large plants

Jen Peterson

Life Span Length of time from the beginning of

development to death of the plant Annuals – live for one growing season

Winter annuals Summer annuals

Biennials – live for two growing seasons Perennials – live from one year to the next

Winter AnnualsSummer

Fall

Winter

Spring

germinate

dormant

produce seed

plant dies

Summer AnnualsSummer

Fall

Winter

Spring

produce seed

plant dies

germinate

grow

BiennialsSummer & Fall

SummerSpring

Spring Winter

Winter

germinate

go dormant

produce rosette & developed roots

plant dies

produce seed

produce flowering stalk

Perennials

Cycle continues until plant eventually dies

1st S

prin

g

1st Summer 1 st Fall

1st Winter

2nd Spring

Summer

Fall

Winter

build up root reserves

go dormant

new plant from root

go dormant

produce seed

flower

germinate

flower

produce seed

build up root reserves

Season of Growth Cool Season

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 and northern states

Season of Growth Warm Season

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 of Idaho have a few

warm season plants Common in southern states

Season of GrowthGr

owth

Rat

e

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

Mostly applies to herbaceous plants

Season of Growth

Mostly Cool Season Plants

Transitional Zone

Mostly Warm Season Plants

Origin Area where the plant evolved

Native plants – originated in North America Introduced plants – Intentionally or accidentally

brought to North America Invasive Species – outside natural distribution

area; threaten biological diversity Noxious Weeds – weeds that have been

specifically identified as “noxious” by state law 64 Noxious weeds in Idaho 47 Noxious weeds in Nevada 27 Noxious weeds in Utah

Plant Terminology Native

? Introduced

? Invasive

? Weed

?

Native or Indigenous Originated where they now occur without the

help of humans. For example, native to North America Well adapted to the local climate, soils,

animals, and microbes. How long have they

been here?

Western Yarrow - widely distributed throughout North America

Introduced, Exotic or Non-native

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=eDji4I1v4-E#!

Introduced, Exotic or Non-native An organism occurring outside of its natural

home range Other names include alien, foreign, non-

indigenous Introduced by humans

Introduced, Exotic or Non-native Humans introduced non-native plants as:

Grains and food crops Seeds in Ship Ballast Ornamentals Plants for erosion control Plants with higher forage value Accidental

Introductions of exotics continues today

Invasive Species An organism that spreads and establishes over

large areas and persists Growth characteristics that allow it to

dominate the ecosystem

Invasive Species Website = http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/

Invasive Species Often non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem

Not all non-natives are invasive

Whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.

Cheatgrass Juniper

Characteristics of Invasive Plants Abundant seed producers Rapid population establishment Long-term survival of seeds Occupy disturbed sites Competitive Lack of natural enemies

Cheatgrass

Juniper

Weed Plant of little value or a plant “out of place” Competes with crops and native species Troublesome pest that affects the health an productivity

of native landscapes “a plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered”...

Ralph Waldo Emerson “plants that interfere with the growth of desirable plants

and that are unusually persistent and pernicious. They negatively impact human activities and as such are undesirable” Ross & Lembi – Applied Weed Science. 1999

Impacts of Weeds Reducing biological diversity Altering hydrologic conditions Altering soil characteristics Altering fire intensity and frequency Interfering with natural succession Competing for native pollinators Replacing complex communities with monocultures Displacing rare plant species

Noxious = plant species that have been designated “noxious” by law.

The word “noxious” simply means deleterious

Weeds are declared noxious by states or counties.

In Idaho, hundreds of weed species exist. However, only 64 are designated noxious by Idaho law.

Noxious Weeds

www.agri.idaho.gov/Categories/PlantsInsects/NoxiousWeeds/watchlist.php

www.cals.uidaho.edu/weeds2/IWR/iwr-v6_website/files/Download/BUL816.pdf

Plant Terminology Native

Originated where they now occur without the help of humans Introduced

Introduced by humans, exotic or not native Invasive

Growth characteristics that allow it to spread and dominate the ecosystem

Weed Troublesome pest that affects the health an productivity of

native landscapes Noxious Weeds = designated “noxious” by law