2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LECTURE NOTES
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................... 5
Reading: “Grasses and Man .................................................................................................................. 7
Reading: “The Naming of Grasses”.................................................................................................... 12
Reading: “Eponymy of New Mexico Grass Names........................................................................... 15
Study Questions...................................................................................................................... 22
What Are Grasses?
Vegetative Structures ............................................................................................................................ 23
Study Questions...................................................................................................................... 26
Reproductive Structures........................................................................................................................ 28
Study Questions...................................................................................................................... 32
Similarity to Other Plants ..................................................................................................................... 34
Study Questions...................................................................................................................... 37
Characteristics of Important Range and Wildlife Grasses................................................................................. 38
Study Questions...................................................................................................................... 47
Chloridoideae Subfamily
Eragrostideae Tribe ................................................................................................................ 48
Cynodonteae Tribe ................................................................................................................. 50
Reading: “Royal Botanic Expedition to New Spain” ........................................... 50
Pappophoreae Tribe ............................................................................................................... 55
Study Questions...................................................................................................................... 56
Aristidoideae Subfamily
Aristideae Tribe...................................................................................................................... 57
Study Questions...................................................................................................................... 58
Panicoideae Subfamily
Paniceae Tribe ........................................................................................................................ 59
Andropogoneae Tribe ............................................................................................................ 63
Study Questions...................................................................................................................... 66
Arundinoideae Subfamily
Arundineae Tribe.................................................................................................................... 67
Study Questions...................................................................................................................... 68
Pooideae Subfamily
Bromeae Tribe ........................................................................................................................ 69
Poeae Tribe 1: Aveninae Subtribe......................................................................................... 70
Poeae Tribe 2: Poinae Subtribe ............................................................................................. 72
Stipeae Tribe........................................................................................................................... 74
Hordeae (Triticeae) Tribe ...................................................................................................... 75
Study Questions...................................................................................................................... 78
Bambusoideae Subfamily ..................................................................................................................... 79
Ehrhartoideae Subfamily ...................................................................................................................... 80
Study Questions...................................................................................................................... 80
What Is the Genealogy of Grasses?
History of Grass Classification............................................................................................................. 81
Study Questions...................................................................................................................... 86
Evolution of Grasses ............................................................................................................................. 88
Supplementary Lecture Material
Grassland Associations ......................................................................................................................... 89
New Mexico Grasslands ....................................................................................................................... 90