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Grass (Poaceae) Identification
Led by John Dittes
Senior Biologist—Dittes & Guardino Consulting
Saturday, March 11, 2023
9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Grasses dominate many California landscapes, yet their identification presents a challenge to beginner and experienced botanists alike. Despite their prevalence and importance in ecology and agriculture, most general plant taxonomy courses barely touch on the subject.
This workshop is intended to familiarize participants with identification of grasses using spring and summer-flowering species from the Northern Sacramento Valley, Southern Cascade and Northern Sierra Nevada ranges of California. Valley and foothill annual grasslands, montane meadows, riparian corridors, coniferous forest and rock outcrop of this region support a diverse grass assemblage and ample identification “challenges” for experts and novice alike.
Dried specimens of more than 20 genera and 45+ species will be provided for participants to key together as a group and as individuals. Emphasis will be placed on terminology and morphological features used to circumscribe genera and distinguish select species, using the keys in The Jepson Manual 2nd Edition. As we work through the material, participants are encouraged to make “reference specimens” with index cards and clear tape. Beginners and the more-advanced wishing to “brush-up” are invited. Please bring forceps (tweezers), dissecting needle, and a 6" millimeter ruler. If possible, bring a copy of The Jepson Manual 2nd Edition (we have several copies to loan to those who need them); we can direct you to sources for The Jepson Manual if you contact us ahead of time.
The workshop will meet Saturday, March 11, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Holt Hall room 129 (the Ahart Herbarium) at CSU Chico. Registration is $110.00 personal, $135.00 business, $100.00 for members of Friends of the Ahart Herbarium, and $50.00 for students (only 2 seats available at the student price). Please register in advance by filling out and mailing the registration form (PDF) and a check for the registration amount; class size is limited to 18 participants, class cancelled without at least 5 participants. For more information about workshop content please contact John Dittes at jcdittes@sbcglobal.net. For more information about registration please contact Colleen Hatfield, Herbarium Director at (530) 898-4235 or chatfield@csuchico.edu.
This workshop will be led by John Dittes, Senior Biologist with Dittes & Guardino Consulting. John has 31 years of field-work experience in California and the western United States. Since 1995 he has taught plant ID workshops for the Chico State Herbarium, including Springtime Grasses (Poaceae) of California Valleys and Foothills, Summer-Flowering Grasses (Poaceae) of Northern Sierra Nevada and Southern Cascade Ranges, The Sunflowers (Asteraceae), The Pea Family (Fabaceae), Flora of Vernal Pools and Seasonal Wetlands, and Introduction to Plant Identification and the Jepson Manual.