Grasses: Grass or graminoid: a grass, rush, or sedge species (member of Poaceae, Juncaceae, or Cyperaceae). Members of the lily family, such as beargrass, are often mistakenly assumed to be grasses because of the dense clump of long narrow leaves. True graminoids have thin fine leaves and tiny wind pollinated flowers. Most lilies have thicker fleshier leaves and large regular flowers. In grasses stems are hollow and leaves wrap around stem and are generally attached at nodes or distinct swellings on stem, and they die back at the end of the growing season.
Phenophases for Grasses:
First Flower Stalk : Report when the first flower stalk is emerging from the stem of the grass and you can see the first flower cluster (spikelet) rising above the leaves of the stem.
First Pollen : Report the date when the plant starts releasing the powdery, yellow pollen from their cones or catkins (cone-like flower clusters). If there is pollen you should see the pollen dust in the air or on your fingers when you gently touch the flowers.
End of Pollen : Report the date when there are no longer any flowers with pollen. If flowers are in clusters or stalks then the stalks should have no flowers with pollen. If there is pollen you should see the pollen dust in the air or on your fingers when you gently touch the flowers.
First Ripe Fruit : Report the date when you notice the first fruits becoming fully ripe or seeds dropping naturally from the plant. For conifers record when the cones turn brown and the scales expand (seeds should start dispersing shortly thereafter). If fruits are in clusters or stalks then record when stalks have ripe or dispersing fruit (or for trees and shrubs when 3 or more branches have stalks with ripe or dispersing fruit). Ripening is usually indicated by a change in color to the mature color, or by drying and splitting open (for dry fruits such as capsules).
All Leaves Withered : Report when virtually all (95-100%) of the leaves that developed this season, have lost green color or are dried and dead.
