Grasses, often the most common plants in any given landscape, are also some of the most overlooked, underappreciated and misunderstood members of the plant world. Grasses, however, are what makes the prairie a prairie. They are an essential component of savannas, and they even occupy the understory of woodlands and forests. This workshop will provide an introduction to the world of grasses that are found in the prairies, savannas and woodlands of North Texas. The focus will be on field identification of grasses by their distinguishing physical characteristics. It will include an overview of basic terminology related to the parts of the grass plant, a brief discussion of taxonomic classification, discussion of the significance of various grass species, their potential values and the ecosystem services they provide.   

Instructor: Dan Caudle, Botanical Research Institute of Texas Resident Reseacher