What is the term for the small lobe extending from the collar of a grass leaf, which may be long and claw-like or short or absent?

What is the term for the small lobe extending from the collar of a grass leaf, which may be long and claw-like or short or absent?

• A. Auricle
• B. Ligule
• C. Node
• D. Sheath

Answer: (A)

In grasses the leaf meets the stem at the collar, and from that collar a small lobe can extend outward. This projecting little ear-like structure is called an auricle, and its presence, absence, or shape can vary from long and claw-like to short or even absent depending on the species. The auricle is different from the ligule, which is a small, usually membranous strip located at the blade–sheath junction itself rather than a side projection from the collar. The node is the point where the leaf attaches to the stem, and the sheath is the part that wraps around the stem.

In grasses the leaf meets the stem at the collar, and from that collar a small lobe can extend outward. This projecting little ear-like structure is called an auricle, and its presence, absence, or shape can vary from long and claw-like to short or even absent depending on the species. The auricle is different from the ligule, which is a small, usually membranous strip located at the blade–sheath junction itself rather than a side projection from the collar. The node is the point where the leaf attaches to the stem, and the sheath is the part that wraps around the stem.