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The grass plant—its form and function

  • Chapter
The Grass Crop

Part of the book series: The Grass Crop ((WOCS))

Abstract

The form of a plant reflects its function. The morphology of grasses is a product of their genetic make-up and the environment they experience, a key component of which is the grazing animal. Forage grasses have evolved to withstand periodic defoliation. Agriculturally important north-temperate grasses remain vegetative throughout most of the year, with the growing points, from which new leaves are produced, held at or near ground level on unelongated stems. Thus, when the leaves are harvested, whether by cutting or grazing, the majority of the growing points escape. Any leaves which are not harvested, entirely or in part, senesce and die. Turnover is rapid. At the height of the growing season, a typical grass shoot may bear three live leaves and produce a new one every 7–10 days (Alberda and Sibma, 1968). The entire leaf canopy can be replaced within as little as 3–4 weeks.

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Authors
  1. M. J. Robson
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  2. G. J. A. Ryle
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  3. Jane Woledge
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Michael B. Jones Alec Lazenby

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Robson, M.J., Ryle, G.J.A., Woledge, J. (1988). The grass plant—its form and function. In: Jones, M.B., Lazenby, A. (eds) The Grass Crop. The Grass Crop. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1187-1_2

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