ranks on the rachilla. Below them are the glumes — two bracts 
without flowers. 
Each floret consists of one flower or seed enclosed in two pap- 
ery membranes called lemma and palea . The lemma is borne on the 
rachilla above the pair of glumes and the palea at the base of the 
flower or seed. Both the glumes and lemma have nerves or veins 
that run from the base to the tip. If the center nerve is extended, 
it is called an awn. Because awns are of different lengths, shapes, 
and colors, they are often used to identify a particular grass. 
The basic forms of grass seedheads are spike, raceme, and pan- 
spike panicle raceme 
icle but they may grade from one form to another and may have 
specialized forms. 
Spike is a seedhead in which one or more sessile spikelets are 
borne on the main axis (rachis) . 
Raceme is a seedhead in which the spikelets are borne on indi- 
vidual footstalks (pedicels) growing directly on the main axis 
(rachis). 
Panicle is a seedhead with a main axis and subdivided branches. 
It may be compact and spikelike or open. 
Principles of Native Grass Management 
Maximum forage production of native grasses depends on 
applying certain basic management principles. Some knowledge 
of the differences in growth characteristics, site adaptation, and 
uses of the native grasses is important in applying these princi- 
ples. 
Native grasses may be annual or perennial. Annual grasses 
grow from seed each year. Perennial grasses grow each year from 
axillary buds at basal nodes and from seed. 
Native grasses differ in temperature requirements for growth. 
Because of this difference, they are placed in two broad groups — 
cool-season and warm-season grasses. 
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