Grasses, sedges, and rushes are among the most ecologically and economically important plant groups in Ontario’s wetlands, forests, and fields—but also some of the most challenging to identify. This three-day, hands-on field and lab course provides participants with the skills and confidence to distinguish these groups in the field and accurately identify them to species level.

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Through guided fieldwork and practical lab exercises, participants will learn how to collect and prepare specimens, examine diagnostic features with hand lenses and microscopes, and effectively use botanical keys. By the end of the course, you’ll be able to confidently identify grasses, sedges, and rushes, and prepare high-quality plant pressings for reference or herbarium use.

 

Join us in July at the Ken Reid Conservation Area in Lindsay, Ontario, for a unique opportunity to enhance your botanical knowledge and skills.

 

​Program Outline

 

Monday

Morning

• Arrival and registration.

• Introduction to field botany

• Plant taxonomy, nomenclature and structure

• Introduction to grasses, sedges and rushes

• Focal group – rushes

• Guided identification of rushes

Afternoon

• Field ID and collection of a rushes at KRCA

• Identifying collected rush specimens in the lab

• Demonstration of plant pressing

Tuesday

Morning

• Introduction to sedges

• Field Trip to Carden Alvar

Afternoon

• Guided identification of sedges.

• Identifying collected sedge specimens in the lab

 Wednesday

Morning

• Introduction to grasses

• Guided identification of grasses

• Outing – old-field grasses of Kawartha Lakes

Afternoon

• Identifying collected grass specimens in the lab 

• Course wrap-up and departure​