Anatomy of Grass 101: Learn About Grass Plant Parts

Many people can appreciate a beautiful lush green lawn. But have you ever taken a good look at the hard-working plants that make up your grassy swath? The anatomy of grass can be a fascinating topic, I promise! Grass plants have multiple parts that work together to create the green lawn of your dreams. In this post, we will be discussing the anatomy of grass in detail. We will be getting up close and personal with the leaves, roots, stems, crown, and seed head of a grass plant. Each part plays a vital role in the function and appearance of the grass plant. By understanding the anatomy of grass, you can learn how to take care of your lawn better.

A Brief Summary Of The Anatomy of Grass

Are you curious about the anatomy of grass? Specifically, the different parts and what they do? Well, you’ve come to the right place! So strap in and get ready for an educational journey! In this guide, I’ll tell you all about different parts of the grass plant and their functions.

• The leaves of a grass plant are the most visible part. They are what give the plant its green color, and they also produce food for the plant.
• Roots are underground, and they anchor the plant in place. They also absorb water and nutrients from the soil.
• Stems of a grass plant transport water and nutrients throughout the plant. They connect the different parts of the plant and support the seed head.
• The flower/seed head produces the plant’s seeds. Seed heads are not always present, especially on mowed grasses.
• The crown produces new leaves and roots. The crown is located at the base of the plant, just above the roots.

What Are The Parts of A Grass?

Ready to dive in? First take a look at this diagram. It shows the basic anatomy of grass.

Anatomy of Grass Above the Ground

The most easily identifiable part of the grass plant is those that grow above the ground. This includes the stem (including buds and nodes), leaves, and inflorescence (flower head). We know these as the shoot. This will be the longest section in our guide to the anatomy of grass.

Let’s look at each of these parts in detail and learn about their roles.

Grass Stem

The stem of a grass plant gives the plant its structure and supports the buds and leaves.

The stem is also responsible for carrying water and minerals to the leaves. It holds the plant’s vascular system, a network of tissues and fibers. These transport water and nutrients throughout the plant.

Scientists know these tissues as the xylem and the phloem. Xylem cells are woody and in the center of the plant. The roots absorb water and minerals from the soil, traveling upward through the xylem to the leaves. The phloem grows around the xylem and carries the sugars produced by leaves up and down throughout the plant.

Nodes

If you take a closer look at a blade of grass, you’ll notice that it’s not just one long, continuous stalk. Instead, there are joints or nodes along the length of the stem. These nodes are enlarged areas where the leaf’s vascular system attaches to the stem.

The internodes, the part of the stem between two nodes, are usually hollow. You can quickly feel these nodes by running your fingers along the stem. The node is also the point at which the buds are attached.

Buds

Buds play a significant role in the continued health of your grass. They are the growth points of the plant. The buds that form on the stem nodes continually produce new leaves. There are other buds found in the crown that make new plants. These eventually develop and grow independently.

Buds are what keep grass growing. Grasses survive mowing because of the work of the buds. The buds develop new leaves and plants to replace the ones cut off. This resulting in continuous growth. When the older leaves die (or are damaged), the buds are already making new ones to replace them. So, when you’re out mowing the lawn this weekend, take a moment to appreciate the humble bud. Without it, you’d have a very bare-looking lawn.

Leaves

The leaves of the grass plant are what give it its green color. This green color comes from a substance called chlorophyll. The leaves’ function is to produce food for the plant through photosynthesis.

A grass leaf has two parts: a leaf blade (or lamina) and a leaf sheath (or involucrum).

Leaf Blade (Lamina)

Let’s take a closer look at the humble leaf blade. A blade of grass is made of plant cells organized into layers. The epidermis is the outer layer of the leaf. This tissue creates a waxy coating that stops water from leaving the plant too fast.

Inside the epidermis are guard cells. These specialized cells control gas exchange between the environment and the plant. How do guard cells control the movement of those gases? By operating the stomata, which are tiny pores. This is an essential function, as it helps the plant stay alive and healthy.

The mesophyll layer in the middle of the leaf. As you can see in the diagram, it comprises the palisade, plant’s chloroplasts, and spongy mesophyll. This is where the magic happens, people! Chloroplasts are responsible for holding the chlorophyll, which is what gives plants their green color and allows them to produce food.

The spongy mesophyll holds the leaf’s vascular tissue. You find the xylem and phloem here, just like in the stem.

Leaf Sheath (Involucrum)

The leaf sheaths are a tube-like structure surrounding the stem of a grass plant, and their function is to support the grass blade. They grow from the nodes and vary in shape and form from one grass type to another.

The forms and shapes of grass sheaths help identify a type of grass. Some appear rounded, while others look flattened. Some grasses have sheaths in which margins overlap, while others fuse together, and some are completely open.

Collar

You will find the collar where the blade and the sheath meet. Botanists also use the shape and form of the grass for identification. There can also be small outgrowths in the collar region called auricles and ligules.

The collar holds a thin band of intercalary meristematic tissue. Meristem is a type of tissue capable of rapid cell division. Intercalary simply means “between regions of mature tissue.”

The collar is what causes the grass leaf blades to keep growing. It is responsible for continued blade growth following mowing. Cell division happens longer in these areas than in other parts of the plant. Scientists think that this mechanism evolved because of the continual damage caused by grazing animals.

Turfgrasses are generally perennial, but the grass blades only survive for a short time. There are several factors that determine how long grass blades live and the rate at which new ones grow. This includes temperature, light, moisture, nitrogen fertilization, and carbohydrate assimilation. Generally speaking, most blades only live 30 to 60 days. Leaves transport carbohydrates to new leaves as they get older to assist with their development and maturation. Mowing the grass stimulates the plant to move Nitrogen from roots and remaining leaf sheath tissue to new leaves.

The primary function of the grass leaves is to produce food for the plant through photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis

The process of photosynthesis is how plants transform sunlight (light energy) into chemical energy (sugar) that they can use to grow.

When light energy is absorbed by chlorophyll, the unique process of photosynthesis begins. Like all green plants, the grass takes this light energy. It uses it to change water and carbon dioxide into sugar and oxygen. Plants use some sugars as they grow, and store the rest. The oxygen is let go into the atmosphere.

Photosynthesis is essential for life on earth. It allows the plants to grow, thus providing food for plant-eating animals and feeding carnivores. But more than that, it also provides the oxygen we need to breathe.

Finding this post helpful? Read all of my lawn care articles.

Seed Heads (Inflorescence)

Grass seed heads are perhaps the most fascinating part of a grass plant. They come in all shapes and sizes and can be quite beautiful to look at. A grass seed head is the reproductive portion of a grass plant. The central part of the seed head is the spikelets that hold the florets (grass flowers), small, supportive stems, and bracts that cover the flowers. Wind or insects pollinate the florets.

Spikelets can vary in size and shape depending on the grass species, but they all serve the same purpose. That is to produce seeds that will eventually grow into new grass plants.

Grass seed heads fall into three main categories, dependent on how the spikelets grow. These are

• Panicle
• Spike
• Racem

The next time you see a grass seed head waving in the breeze, take a moment to see if you can identify what kind it is.

Anatomy of Grass At Ground Level

As we move down the grass plant, we come to the anatomy of grass at the ground level. This includes the crown, tillers, and stolen. Together, these plant parts play an essential role in ensuring their health and vitality. Let’s take a closer look.

Crown

The crown is the most crucial part of the turfgrass plant. It’s where all the action takes place. The leaves grow up from the crown, and the roots grow down. The crown is the center of activity for the plant, and as long as it remains alive, the plant is alive. So if you’re looking to keep your turfgrass healthy, make sure to take care of the crown.

As the grass grows from the crown, it forms multiple overlapping leaves. The newest ones are located in the center and protected by older ones. Naturally, all the leaves protect the growing point in the crown.

Grass crowns also produce new plants that can eventually live independently. These new plants are genetic clones of the original. They grow on tillers or stolons.

Tillers and Stolons

Tillers are shoots that grow from the base of a grass plant. They develop as new side shoots that grow within the sheath tissue of the mother plant. Grasses that form in this way have a bunch-type growth habit. Eventually, several tillers will develop in a tight clump around the original crown. Each one is a different plant with its own crown.

Stolons grow sideways from shoots that push through the sheath of the mother plant. The result is a stem that extends along the ground called a stolen. Stolons have nodes at various intervals, each with a bud that can develop new roots and shoots. Stolons help the grass grow a thick, dense mat of grass plants. These kinds of glasses tend to do well in high-traffic areas.

Anatomy of Grass Below the Ground

The blades of grass that make up your lawn are what you see when you look outside. Most people are familiar with the part of the grass that grows above ground. But did you know that an equally important part of the grass grows below ground? In this final section of the anatomy of grass will examine those grass parts usually hidden from sight. This includes the roots and rhizomes.

Roots

Grassroots grow out of the crown and into the soil. Roots play a vital role in grasses. They

• Act as an attachment to the ground and provide sod stability
• Absorb minerals and water needed for the plant’s survival
• Send hormonal signals to the aboveground portion of the plant
• Store carbohydrates for later use

Roots do not produce carbohydrates for development and growth as they are underground and not exposed to sunlight. They rely on the grass blades above ground to create carbohydrates that the roots need to grow.

Most turf grassroots are fibrous and multi-branched. They grow to a depth between 6 inches and two feet deep. Root depth depends on the variety of grass and soil health and the grass maintenance schedule. The deeper the root, the more drought-tolerant the grass.

Find out more about how the correct grass maintenance can encourage deep roots.

Internally, there are three significant parts of a grass root.

• The root tip contains a meristem, which generates new cells. It’s where cell division and development take place.
• The zone of elongation is located behind the meristem. Cells in this region multiply when they have sufficient food and water. This growth causes the root to push down through the soil.
• Right below the crown and stem is the zone of maturation. Cells start to show the traits of specific tissues such as vascular tissue or epidermis.

Rhizomes

Rhizomes are an essential part of many plant species, especially grasses. Essentially, rhizomes are modified underground stems that grow underground and produce new shoots. These new shoots then develop into new plants. Rhizomes do not contain chlorophyll and, at first glance, look like large, white roots. However, they are indeed stems, even though they grow underground.

Rhizomes are an essential adaptation for many plant species, especially in grasses. They help the plant spread and reproduce quickly. Roots do not have nodes, while rhizomes do; these nodes produce new plants.

How I Researched For This Post

This post about the anatomy of grass is the result of about 3 hours of research. I work in an academic library, so I have access to many scientific journals and books. When I write a post, I look at the scientific literature and use that information. I used the following resources.

• Landschoot, P. (2016). The cool-season turfgrasses: Basic structures, growth, and development.
• Grass Structures: Grass growth and regrowth for improved management. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.friendsofthewildflowergarden.org/pdfdocs/grassstructures.pdf
• Christians, N. E., Patton, A. J., & Law, Q. D. (2016). Fundamentals of turfgrass management. John Wiley & Sons.

Conclusion

So, there you have it! The anatomy of grass in a nutshell. Next time you’re outside, take a closer look at your grass and see if you can identify the different parts. Having a better understanding of your plants and what role each part plays helps take better care of your lawn. Now that you know more about grass, you can appreciate your lawn even more! And, next time you’re mowing the lawn, give a thought to how amazing this humble plant really is. We hope you have found this post helpful, and please share it with your gardening friends.