Dichotomous Key RANGELAND PRINCIPLES REM 151 Dichotomous Key

Dichotomous Key RANGELAND PRINCIPLES (REM 151)

Dichotomous Key: • Used to identify organisms • Physical structures

Physical Structure: • Growth Forms • Life Span • Morphology: • Leaves • Stems • Roots • Flowers • Leaves: • Types • Arrangements • Shapes • Margins • Venation • Stems: • Rhizomes • Stolons • Flowers: • Inflorescence types

Dichotomous Key: • Used to identify organisms • Physical structures • Questions with only two answer choices

Practice: • Using the “Dichotomous Key to Rangeland Grasses” identify the following grass species (a glossary is also provided so look up any terms you are unfamiliar with). • • Bluebunch Wheatgrass Cheatgrass or Downy Brome Crested Wheatgrass Idaho Fescue If you are having a hard time seeing the physical characteristics, zoom in!

Plant 1:

Plant 2:

Plant 3:

Plant 4:

Assignment: • Using the “Dichotomous Key to Rangeland Grasses” identify the following grass species (a glossary is also provided so look up any terms you are unfamiliar with). • • Bluebunch Wheatgrass >> 3 Cheatgrass or Downy Brome >> 4 Crested Wheatgrass >> 1 Idaho Fescue >> 2

Create your own dichotomous key: • 15 plants

Create your own dichotomous key: • 15 plants • Dichotomous Key Tree Is this plant a grass or grass-like? Yes No Bluebunch Wheatgrass Cheatgrass or Downy Brome Crested Wheatgrass Idaho Fescue

Create your own dichotomous key: • 15 plants • Dichotomous Key Tree Is this plant a grass or grass-like? Yes No Western Yarrow Big Sagebrush Deerbrush Shadscale Saltbush Winterfat Leafy Spurge Spotted Knapweed Salt Cedar Juniper Tailcup Lupine Tall Larkspur

Create your own dichotomous key: • 15 plants • Dichotomous Key Tree Is this plant a forb? Yes No Western Yarrow Leafy Spurge Spotted Knapweed Tailcup Lupine Tall Larkspur

Create your own dichotomous key: • 15 plants • Dichotomous Key Tree Is this plant a forb? Yes No Big Sagebrush Deerbrush Shadscale Saltbush Winterfat Salt Cedar Juniper