It's Finals Week

The blog has fallen silent the past couple of weeks as I am trying to be a responsible student and study for final exams. My students are busy reviewing their irrigation notes and the concepts of static and dynamic pressure, design capacity, matched precipitation rates, water quality and much more. Meanwhile, I am studying (trying to study) for my biochemistry final which is Friday morning. Wish me luck!

So, in honor of finals week, I put together a quiz similar to the one the students take in their introductory turfgrass laboratory. I will post the answers early next week. Good luck, and keep your eyes on your own paper!


Question #1

This grass has a boat-shaped leaf tip and folded vernation. The leaf blade possesses a prominent mid-rib. Growth is rhizomatous.

Name the grass, common and scientific name.






Question #2

This grass also has a boat-shaped leaf tip and folded vernation. There is a prominent mid-rib and a membranous ligule at the base of the leaf. Growth is bunch type.

Name the grass, common and scientific name.






Question #3

This grass has a pointed leaf tip and a folded vernation. There is a tuft of hairs at the base of the leaf blade. Growth is rhizomatous and stoloniferous.

Name the grass, common and scientific name.

Question #4

This weed has small white flowers and the leaves are covered by tiny hairs. This weed can be a problem in golf greens and other closely-mowed turf.

Name the weed and its lifecycle.





Question #5

This weed has heart shaped leaves and white to purple flowers. It can produce rooting stolons and rhizomes.

Name the weed and its lifecycle.

Question #6

This weed has a folded vernation and a zipper-like seedhead. The stems are silver toward the base of the plant.

Name the weed and its lifecycle.







Question #7

This seed lacks an awn. The rachilla is flat in cross section.

Name this seed.









Question #8

This seed has a very short awn. The rachilla is round and flares at the top.

Name this seed.










Question #9

This insect chews into the stem and deposits its eggs. The eggs hatch and the larvae feed on the crown.

Name this insect.







Question #10

This insect hasn't always been a problem in Iowa. Damage can occur to ornamental as well as turfgrass.

Name this insect.







Question #11

The claim is often made that more money is spent on this disease than any other. It is more prevalent under low nitrogen fertility.

Name the disease.







Question #12

This disease appears most often during periods of high air temperatures and humidity. Symptoms appear in a patch and a dark "smoke ring" is often visible. It is more prevalent under high nitrogen fertility

Name the disease.




Marcus Jones
Graduate Research Assistant
Iowa State University