Species category

Revegetation or Rangeland, Turf

Common name

buffalograss

Diagnostic characters

Identification notes

This seed unitSeed unit:
The structure usually regarded as a seed in planting practices and in commercial channels, consisting of a true seed with or without accessory structures, as defined in Section 2.6 of the AOSA Rules. See also true seed.
is a collection of spikeletsSpikelet:
One or more florets that are subtended by a pair of bracts called glumes. Spikelets are pedicellate if located on a pedicle and sessile if attached directly to the rachis. Often spikelets with single florets have remnants of a second floret, usually a lemma.
that are compressed together into a ball or burrBurr:
Has spikelets or flowers that are compressed closely together by lacking a central axis. The spikelet glumes are hard and pointed, e.g. buffalograss.
. Seldomly are the floretsFloret:
A small flower in a clustered inflorescence (e.g., sunflower, grasses). In grasses, a floret consists of the lemma, palea, stamens, and pistil.
and caryopsisCaryopsis:
The single-seeded fruit or grain of the grass family (Poaceae); the fruit wall (pericarp) is united with the seed coat (testa).
naturally extracted from the spikeletsSpikelet:
One or more florets that are subtended by a pair of bracts called glumes. Spikelets are pedicellate if located on a pedicle and sessile if attached directly to the rachis. Often spikelets with single florets have remnants of a second floret, usually a lemma.
in the burrBurr:
Has spikelets or flowers that are compressed closely together by lacking a central axis. The spikelet glumes are hard and pointed, e.g. buffalograss.
. The burrBurr:
Has spikelets or flowers that are compressed closely together by lacking a central axis. The spikelet glumes are hard and pointed, e.g. buffalograss.
can be referred to as a compressed inflorescenceInflorescence:
The flowering structure of a plant (e.g., umbel, spike or panicle).
. The outer structures seen in the burrBurr:
Has spikelets or flowers that are compressed closely together by lacking a central axis. The spikelet glumes are hard and pointed, e.g. buffalograss.
are the thick, hard, pointed lower glumesGlume:
The pair of chaffy bracts that occur at the base of a grass spikelet, often completely enclosing it.
. The lemmaLemma:
One of two bracts of the grass floret; it is located on the side nearest the embryo and opposite the rachilla.
and paleaPalea:
One of the thin bracts of grass floret enclosing the fruit (caryopsis) that is located on the side opposite the embryo.
of an extracted floretFloret:
A small flower in a clustered inflorescence (e.g., sunflower, grasses). In grasses, a floret consists of the lemma, palea, stamens, and pistil.
are thin and papery.

Noxious weed seed categories

Not listed

AOSA examination list

Included

Nomenclature