Sward Height

The height of the uppermost element of vegetation which is in its natural position. In a turfgrass situation, this would, ideally, be referring to live, not dead, grass height rather than any vegetative height which would also include any undesirable weeds.

  Tap Root

The main, downward pointing root of some plants. Dandelion is a prime example of a weed with a tap root.

  Tepal

A flower without distinction between petals and sepals. An example of this is Fat Hen, whose scientific name is Chenopodium album.

  Tiller

A shoot (an upright growing one) which originates from axillary buds at the base, or crown, of the plant, and which is the junction between roots and shoots. The tiller will typically produce several leaves as it grows.

  Tillering

The active process of tiller production. Tillers may be classed as intravaginal where new growth occurs inside the sheath, or extravaginal where the new growth penetrates the sheath, typically producing a stolon or rhizome.

  Translocation

The movement of dissolved materials throughout a plant. Typically, this involves moving materials from where they are created or taken up to where they are needed for growth or storage for future growth.

  Transpiration Stream

The flow of water from the roots to the leaves, through the xylem vessels, and against the force of gravity, then out into the atmosphere via stomata. There are two key properties of water ¯ Adhesion and Cohesion ¯ which assist the flow of water in the xylem vessels.

  Tufted Growth

Plant growth which is upright and in clumps, bunching, or tussocks. A grass with a tufted growth habit may also spread by the use of stolons and rhizomes. A grass plant which exhibits tufted growth habit has its shoots and buds located in the crown without spreading vegetatively, but the tuft will become denser and broader over the years.

  Turgid

A plant with adequate water content and whose structure is relatively firm and rigid.

  Vegetative Propagation

The establishment of turf from either fragments of another plant or colonisation of an area by stolons or rhizomes. The vegetative propagation of some grass species will typically be from chopped up pieces of rhizomes or stolons spread over prepared ground.