The sheath is split, partially split with overlapping margins, or closed. Auricles are either long, short, or absent. This is a term that describes how the new blade grows from the sheath. Vernation is either rolled or folded. Roots of turfgrasses are typically fibrous, many branched, and shallow as compared to other plants.
Grasses have a subapical meristem- a growing region that is located below the tip of the plant.
This is why grasses can be mowed without damaging the plant s ability to grow normally. Dichotomous keys are used to identify unknown species of plants. This type of key allows one to make two choices at each level of the key based on anatomical and morphological characteristics. Once a choice is made based on the similarity to the unknown plant, two more choices are presented regarding another feature. Working in groups, have students identify unknown grass species using the dichotomous key.