Grasslands Exam 1

Terms, tribes

tiller

collection of phytomers from a single apical meristem

phytomer

internode and node together with the leaf blade and sheath at the upper end and axillary bud at the lower end

adventitious root

a primary root with 2-7 first order branches

dicotyledon

a flowering plant whose seed has two embryonic seed leaves (cotyledons)

disturbance

any relatively discrete event in time that disrupts ecosystem, community, or population structure and changes resources, substrate availability, or the physical environment

monocotyledon

a flowering plant that has seeds with only one embryonic seed leaf (cotyledon)

fossorial rodent

adapted for digging and live mainly underground

rhizomatous

below ground stems

stolon

above ground stems

mollisol

dark, soft surface horizon rich in organic matter from decaying grass roots

rain shadow

a dry area of land on the side of a mountain away from the wind

nitrogen dilution

the natural decline in a plant’s tissue nitrogen concentration as it’s total dry biomass increases during growth

niche differentiation

a way in which competing species use the environment differently so they can coexist

transient seed bank

live only until the first germination season

persistent seed bank

live for two or more germination seasons

savanna

significant grass cover with varying degrees of woody vegetation i.e. trees

seminal root

grows first, absorb the most nutrient per unit weight, but live briefly as they are replaced by adventitious rootss

steppe

significant grass cover with varying degrees of woody vegetation i.e. shrubs

Andropogoneae

sorghum tribe

Aristideae

three-awn tribe

Cynodonteae

bermuda grass tribe

Paniceae

millet tribe

Eragrosteae

lovegrass tribe

Aveneae

oat tribe

Bromeae

brome tribe

Tribes with no common name

Danthionieae and Melicaceae

Poeae

bluegrass tribe

Stipeae

needlegrass tribe

Triticeae

wheat/barley tribe