Poa secunda

Poa secunda J.S. Presl
One-sided bluegrass

Family:  Poaceae

Habit:  Perennial grass growing in matted tufts, 1.5 to 10 dm. 

Distribution:  Commonly scattered from coastal woodland to chaparral and coniferous forest.  California to Alaska, Rocky Mountains, northwest Mexico, and South America.  Many ecological forms, tends to intergrade.

Seed unit:  Multiple floret spikelet or floret with caryopsis.

Seed:   (Floret) - Lemma awnless, 3.5 to 5 mm.  Amount of pubescence on lemma and whether the lemma is keeled or not help to determine subspecies.

Embryo:  Basal lateral embryo area of seed caryopsis.

Purity instructions:   Pure seed definition: 
AOSA:  PSU #14 – Multiple floret spikelet, multiple floret or floret, provided a caryopsis with some degree of endosperm development can be detected.  Caryopsis or piece of broken caryopsis larger than one-half of the original size. 
ISTA:  #41 – Spikelet - with lemma and palea enclosing a caryopsis, plus attached sterile floret.  Floret - with lemma and palea enclosing a caryopsis.  Caryopsis - piece of caryopsis larger than one-half the original size. 

Lab notes:  Presence of empty florets common in samples.  Blowing point with general blower approximately #11.

Average pure seed units per gram:  2,075 seeds per gram (based on AOSA pure seed units only from 73 samples received for testing from 2002 to 2003).

Range of percent pure seed:   63% to 99%

Range of percent inert:  1% to 35%

Description of inert:  Chaff, empty florets, plant material, broken seed.  

Planting instructions:  400 seeds, TB, 21 days @ 20-30°C; for fresh and dormant seed, prechill and GA3 recommended.

References:  (link to main reference page)
Hickman, J.C., Ed.  1993.  p. 1289.
Ransom Seed Laboratory
Smith, C.F.  1998.  p. 121.

Nassella pulchra

Nassella pulchra (A. Hitchc.) Barkworth
Purple needlegrass, Purple stipa (syn. Stipa pulchra A. Hitchc.)

Family:  Poaceae

Habit:  Tufted perennial grass with flat or involute leaves and terminal nodding panicles.  Stem 3 to 10 dm. high.

Distribution:  Found in oak woodland, chaparral, and grasslands in California coastal ranges from Humboldt County to Baja California; also in the Sierran foothills and the Channel Islands.

Seed unit:  One-flowered spikelet with caryopsis.

Seed:    Glumes subequal; 12 to 19 mm.; floret 7.5 to 11.5 mm., lemma evenly hairy, becoming glabrous on veins, neck conspicuous, not narrowed at base.  Awn 38 to 100 mm., strongly bent.

Embryo:  Basal-lateral embryo area of seed caryopsis.

Purity instructions:   Pure seed definition: 
AOSA:  PSU #12 - Single floret, with or without awn, provided a caryopsis with some degree of endosperm development can be detected (either by slight pressure or by examination over light.)  Caryopsis or piece of broken caryopsis larger than one-half of the original size. 

Average pure seed units per gram:  212 seeds per gram (based on AOSA pure seed units only from 328 samples received for testing from 1992 to 2003).

Range of percent pure seed:   27% to 99%

Range of percent inert:  .08% to 71%

Description of inert:   Plant material, chaff, soil, broken seed, sticks.

Planting instructions:  400 seeds, TB, 21 days @ 15-25°; for fresh and dormant seed, prechill and GA3 recommended.

References:  (link to main reference page)
Hickman, J.C., Ed.  1993.  p. 1276.
Munz, P.A. and D.D. Keck.  1968.  p. 1532.
Ransom Seed Laboratory

Hordeum brachyantherum

Hordeum brachyantherum  Nevski subsp.
Meadow barley

Family:  Poaceae

Habit:  Tufted perennial 2 to 7 dm. tall, mostly glabrous.

Distribution:  Meadows, pastures, stream banks in California to Rocky Mountains, Mexico to Alaska.  The ssp. californicum is found from California to Oregon.

Seed unit:  3 joined spiklets.

Seed:  Central spikelet glumes 7 to 19 mm. long, flat at base and straight with age, lateral spikelet glumes 6.5 to 19 mm long, narrower, straight or spreading with age.

Embryo:  Basal-lateral embryo area of seed caryopsis.

Purity instructions:   Pure seed definition: 
AOSA:  PSU#14 - Multiple floret spikelet, multiple floret or floret with or without awn(s), provided a caryopsis with some degree of endosperm development can be detected.  Caryopsis or piece of broken caryopsis larger than one half of the original size.

Lab notes:  Often samples have multiple floret spikelets or spikelets that are empty with undeveloped caryopses.

Average pure seed units per gram:  239 seeds per gram (based on AOSA pure seed units only from 101 samples received for testing from 1994 to 2003).  

Range of percent pure seed:   84% to 99%

Range of percent inert:  .01 to 7%

Description of inert:   Plant material, chaff.

Planting instructions:  400 seeds, TB, 14 days at 20°C; for fresh and dormant seed, prechill and GA3 recommended.

References:  (link to main reference page)
Hickman, J.C., Ed.  1993.  p. 1266
Munz, P.A. and D.D. Keck.  1968.  p. 1508
Ransom Seed Laboratory

Aristida adscensionis

Aristida adscensionis  L.
Triple-awned grass

Family:  Poaceae

Habit:  Annual 1 to 8 dm. branched at base, purplish tinge, erect or spreading.

Distribution:  Dry open rocky sites and in shrubland.  San Luis Obispo County to the deserts.  Also in Texas, Kansas and Argentina.

Seed unit: Spikelet with caryopsis.

Seed:  Lower glume 5 to 7 mm., upper 8 to 10 mm.; lemma 6 to 13 mm.; 3 awns, 7 to 23 mm., equal length.  Tip is often beaked.  

Embryo:  Basal-lateral embryo area of seed caryopsis.

Purity instructions:   Pure seed definition: 
AOSA: PSU #13 - Single floret spikelet or floret with or without awns, provided a caryopsis with some degree of endosperm development can be detected.  Caryopsis or piece of broken caryopsis larger than one-half of the original size.

Lab notes:  Seeds often look like sticks and are attached to stems.  Many florets are without substance.

Average pure seed units per gram:  1352 seeds per gram (based on AOSA pure seed units only from seven (7) samples received for testing from 1993 to 2003).

Range of percent pure seed:   10% to 53%

Range of percent inert: 44% to 88%

Description of inert:   Plant material, chaff, broken seed, dirt, sticks.

Planting instructions:  400 seeds, TB, 21 days at 15-25°C; for fresh and dormant seed, prechill and GA3 recommended.

References:  (link to main reference page)
Hickman, J.C., Ed.  1993.  p. 1234.
Munz, P.A. and D.D. Keck.  1968.  p. 1535.
Ransom Seed Laboratory

Agrostis exarata

Agrostis exarata Trin.
Spike bentgrass

Family:  Poaceae

Habit:  Tufted perennial grass 2 to 12 dm. tall.

Distribution:  Found in moist places along creeks, rivers or roadsides in open woodlands and coniferous forests; from Alaska to South Dakota and south to California, Texas and Mexico.

Seed unit:  Single floret spikelet with caryopsis.

Seed:  Glumes 1.5 to 3.5 mm. Lemma 1 to 2 mm. long, ending in a prickle or short awn.  Palea minute.

Embryo:  Basal-lateral embryo area of seed caryopsis.

Purity instructions:   Pure seed definition: 
AOSA:  PSU #13 - Single floret spikelet or floret with or without awns, provided a caryopsis with some degree of endosperm development can be detected.  Caryopsis or piece of broken caryopsis larger than one half of the original size.

Lab notes:  For purity examinations on this species, a general seed blower and a diphanoscope are helpful.

Average pure seed units per gram:  12,373 seeds per gram (based on AOSA pure seed units only from 7 samples received for testing from 1996 to 2002). 

Range of percent pure seed:   92% to 98%

Range of percent inert: 1% to 7%

Description of inert:  Chaff, plant material, dirt.

Planting instructions:  400 seeds, TB, 21 days @ 15-25°C; for fresh and dormant seed, prechill and GA3 recommended.

References:  (link to main reference page)
Hickman, J.C., Ed.  1993.  p. 1229.
Munz, P.A. and D.D. Keck.  1968.  p. 1522.
Ransom Seed Laboratory