Types and Categories of Range Plants

1. Types and Categories of Range Plants

2. Objectives • Categorize plants according to: • growth form, • life span, • season of growth, • origin, and • forage value

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 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

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

8. 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

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

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

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

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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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 • 35 Noxious Weeds in Idaho

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