Table 1.8-2. Developmental stages of legumes and grasses.

Table 1.8-2

Table 1.8-2. Developmental stages of legumes and grasses.
Stage of maturity	Definition*
Legumes
*Randomly select 100 stems from the field and determine the percentage of stems at the most mature stage of development.
Late vegetative	No visible buds, flowers, or seed pods. Stem at least 12 inches tall.
Early bud	Visible flower buds on at least one stem (1%).
Mid-bud	50% of the stems have at least one bud.
Late bud	75% of the stems have at least one bud, no visible flowers.
First bloom	Flowers on at least one stem (1%).
1/10 bloom	10% of the stems have at least one flower.
Mid-bloom	50% of the stems have at least one flower.
Full bloom	75% of the stems have at least one flower, no visible seed pods.
Grasses
Vegetative	Leaves only, stems not elongated (specify height).
Stem elongation	Stems elongating. Specify early or late jointing.
Boot	Flower head is enclosed in flag leaf sheath and not showing.
Heading	Flower head emerging or emerged from flag leaf sheath but not shedding pollen.
Anthesis	Flowering stage, anthers shedding pollen.
Milk stage	Seed immature, endosperm milky.
Dough stage	Well-developed seed, endosperm doughy.
Ripe seed	Seed ripe, leaves green to yellow brown.