Field Guide to Grasses of California (California Natural History Guides)

✍ Scribed by James P. Smith Jr.

Publisher: University of California Press
Year: 2014
Tongue: English
Leaves: 449
Category: Library

No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.

✦ Synopsis

Grasses and grasslands are of increasing interest to conservationists, biologists, and gardeners. There are more than 300 species of native California grasses and they are found in almost every climatefrom cool, wet forests to hot, dry deserts. Native grasses are also important to land restoration as they improve soil quality, increase water infiltration, and recycle nutrients. Their deep roots can tap soil water, which allows them to stay green year-round and to act as fire buffers around residences. Native grasses also provide vital habitat for many species of insects, birds, reptiles, and mammals. Despite their importance, grasslands remain one of the most underprotected of California's vegetation types, and native grasslands have undergone the greatest percentage loss of any habitat type in the state. Grasses are also among the most difficult plants to identify. Organized alphabetically, Field Guide to Grasses of California covers common native and naturalized grasses and, to help identify them, also features over 180 color illustrations.

✦ Table of Contents

Cover
FIELD GUIDE TO GRASSES OF CALIFORNIA
Title
Dedication
Copyright
CONTENTS
Preface
INTRODUCTION
The Grass Family and Its Relatives
The Names of Grasses
Grass Classification
THE STRUCTURE OF GRASSES
Vegetative Structure
Reproductive Structure
Spikelet Structure
Inflorescences
GRASSES IN CALIFORNIA
California Grass Flora
Where Do Grasses Grow in California?
Endemic Grasses
Rare, Endangered, and Threatened Grasses
Weedy Grasses
Toxic Grasses
Ethnobotanical Uses
COLLECTING AND IDENTIFYING GRASSES
Identifying Grasses
The Subfamilies and Tribes of California Grasses
Key to the Genera of California Grasses
ACCOUNTS AND DESCRIPTIONS: SELECTED GENERA AND SPECIES
Appendix: A Checklist of California Grasses
Glossary, Abbreviations, and Symbols
Index
About the Author

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