APPENDIX B 

 GLOSSARY OF GRASS TERMINOLOGY 



annual— One season's duration from seed to maturity and death. 



apical shoot— Shoot growing from the terminal end of a culm. 



blade— Expanded part of a leaf. 



culm— Stem of grasses, usually hollow except at the swollen nodes. 



inflorescence— Flower cluster of a plant or the arrangement of flowers on the floral axis. 



internode— Part of stem between two nodes. 



lateral shoot— Shoot growing from one side of a grass culm as opposed to the terminal end 

 of the culm. (For this study, a shoot developing from an elevated node or leaf axil as 

 opposed to a basal node.) 



node— Joint of a stem where a leaf is borne or may be borne. Buds are also commonly borne 

 at the node. 



panicle— Open, branching inflorescence, as in oats and some other grasses. 



perennial— Living from year to year, not dying after once flowering. 



primary shoot— Main stem of a grass clump or clone; the oldest stem of a clump. The first 

 culm developed from a seed. 



primary tiller— Lateral branch or shoot developing from buds of the primary shoot. 



reproductive culm— Any grass stem that has developed an inflorescence at its terminal end. 

 The inflorescence may be minute and unexposed. 



rhizome— Underground stem or rootstock, with scales at the nodes. Forms buds at the nodes 

 that may, under proper stimulus, develop into leafy shoots. Roots also develop from the 

 nodes. New shoots are usually produced from the tip of the rhizome. 



secondary tiller— Lateral branch or shoot developing from buds of primary tillers. 



sheath— Tubular basal part of the leaf that encloses the stem, as in grasses and sedges. 



shoot— Collective term applied to the stem and leaves, or any young growing branch or twig. 



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