Types and Categories of

Transcription

1 Types and Categories of Range Plants

2 Plants are the "ultimate" source of organic energy in ecosystems Plants produce their through Photosynthesis: Get raw material from soil. When leaves are removed from plants, foodproducing capacity is reduced. Therefore, we manage amount of photosynthetic material on plant To manage we must understand biotic and abiotic influences on photosynthesis

3 Growth Forms of Rangeland Plants 4 major growth forms: Grasses Grass-like Forbs Shrubs

4 Grasses Most important and abundant kind of range plant (Cover more than 20% 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

5 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

6 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

7 Shrubs Woody plants with several main stems Usually have broad leaves Browse = portion of woody plant eaten as forage (young stems and leaves) Mast = fruit, nuts, and seeds

8 Weed Any plant that grows where it is not wanted or interferes with the growth of desirable plants. The term weed is usually reserved for plants that have a persistent and aggressive growth habits.

9 Noxious Weed Those designated by a county, state, or federal government as requiring control. Invasive plants that have been specifically identified as noxious by state law 35 Noxious Weeds in Idaho

10 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

11 Winter Annuals Summer plant dies Spring Fall germinate produce seed Winter dormant

12 Summer Annuals grow Summer Spring Fall germinate Winter produce seed plant dies

13 Biennials germinate Spring Summer & Fall Winter go dormant plant dies Winter produce rosette & developed roots Summer Spring produce seed produce flowering stalk

14 Perennials produce seed flower build up root reserves 1 st Winter go dormant go dormant 2 nd Spring new plant from root germinate build up root reserves produce seed flower Summer Cycle continues until plant eventually dies

15 Origin Area where the plant evolved Native plants originated in North America Introduced plants Intentionally or accidentally brought to North hamerica Nat rali ed introd ced plants that are adapted to the Naturalized = introduced plants that are adapted to the climate in which they live and require no external inputs to survive. A good example is Crested Wheatgrass

16 Lignification Herbaceous = non-woody plant Plant dies back to ground each year All annuals are herbaceous Grasses and forbs are herbaceous Woody = plants with lignified stems including trees and shrubs Suffrutescent = plant with woody base but herbaceous stems that die back to ground every year.

17 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

18 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 g warm season plants

19 Season of Growth Evergreen Plant that retain leave throughout year Usually woody plants Generally are cool season plants (remember, they photosynthesize in winter) Important forage during drought and winte

20 Forage Value How well a plant provides nutrients to grazing animals High plants that are nutritious, palatable, and produce abundant forage Mdi Medium plants that provide adequate nutrition i if eaten Low plants that do not provide adequate nutrients Poisonous - contain natural plant compounds that are toxic or poisonous to herbivores