Identifying Grasses using Poland and Clement's Vegetative Key

Description

When surveying out of season or in grazed/mown habitats, being able to confidently identify grasses is an essential skill.

Poland and Clement’s Vegetative Key is a fantastic resource that is, in our experience, more likely to give you a correct identification than any other publication. It can however be daunting to use. Becoming proficient will enable year-round habitat surveying or simply allow you to get your botanical fix during the winter months!

There will be a short PowerPoint presentation of handy tips, but the vast majority of the day will be spent practicing the key with the support of your expert tutor. Samples not found at the training venue (such as those of wetland and acidic habitats) will be brought in and excursions will be taken on foot to explore local habitats including modified, neutral and calcareous grassland and a range of woodland types.

Teaching will be informal, with participants encouraged to practice the key independently. Time will also be spent both keying as a group, discussing identification features in the field, and revising commonly encountered species. Anatomy, terminology and the key itself will become second nature by the end of the day.

Knowledge Level

Beginner

Prior Knowledge

Basic botanical skills would be useful, such as grass anatomy.

Learning Outcomes

• Use Poland and Clement’s Vegetative Key to identify non-flowering grasses.

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