Types and Categories of Range Plants Jen 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 1/5 th 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 Poacea family (the grass family) has 500 genera & 8,000 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

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 PetersonK. 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 Annuals Summer Fall Winter Spring germinate dormant produce seed plant dies

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

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

Perennials Cycle continues until plant eventually dies 1 st Spring 1 st Summer 1 st Fall 1 st Winter 2 nd 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

Origin  Area where the plant evolved Native plants – originated in North America Introduced plants – Intentionally or accidentally brought to North America Invasive Species (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 on 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

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 =

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

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