Grasses, Sedges and Rushes

Identification of grasses, sedges and rushes is often perceived as one of the most difficult activities in the realm of botany. This is due to many factors, the most prominent of which are that grasses, sedges, and rushes (i.e., “the graminoids”) are usually small, narrow-leaved plants with unassuming, diminutive flowers – and they all look alike! Even more disconcerting, the “language” surrounding graminoid botany seems like an insurmountable pile of un-pronounceable Latin words with no end in sight. This course with Dr. Douglas DeBerry is for the disgruntled multitudes who would like to gain a better understanding of grass, sedge and rush terminology, classification, nomenclature and most importantly, identification. In addition, those already proficient in plant identification will find this course to be a useful refresher. Emphasis is on native or naturalized species in Virginia, and the use of dichotomous keys in technical plant manuals and regional floras.

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