Which turfgrasses have a hairy ligule?

Which turfgrasses have a hairy ligule?

• A. Kentucky bluegrass
• B. Creeping bentgrass
• C. Bermudagrass
• D. None of these turfgrasses

Answer: (D)

Hairiness of the ligule is a plant feature used to tell grasses apart, but the ligules of these common turfgrasses are not hairy. Kentucky bluegrass has a small, membranous ligule without hairs; creeping bentgrass likewise shows a slender, smooth ligule; bermudagrass has a short, smooth ligule as well. Because none of these display a hairy ligule, none of them match that trait. If you ever see a ligule with hairs, it would point to a different turfgrass species outside these three. In practice, ligule texture helps, but it’s most reliable when used with other characteristics like leaf blade width, growth habit, and stolon or rhizome presence.

Hairiness of the ligule is a plant feature used to tell grasses apart, but the ligules of these common turfgrasses are not hairy. Kentucky bluegrass has a small, membranous ligule without hairs; creeping bentgrass likewise shows a slender, smooth ligule; bermudagrass has a short, smooth ligule as well. Because none of these display a hairy ligule, none of them match that trait. If you ever see a ligule with hairs, it would point to a different turfgrass species outside these three. In practice, ligule texture helps, but it’s most reliable when used with other characteristics like leaf blade width, growth habit, and stolon or rhizome presence.