Grasses are the most economically important crop in modern times, providing building materials and fuel, as well as food for both humans and other animals.

On Saturday at the Audubon Center & Sanctuary’s Grasses, Sedges and Rushes workshop will teach those interested how to distinguish kinds of plants and the importance of each as they provide critical habitat for a number of wildlife.

The class meets from 1-3 p.m. Elyse Henshaw, instructor, will teach several handy tricks for telling the difference between the three and even to identify characteristics of specific species. Grasses, sedges and rushes each grow in specific conditions and make up important habitats for a number of grassland and wetland species. From Henslow’s Sparrows to muskrats, a number of species rely on grasses, sedges and rushes for foraging, nesting and protection from predators.

Henshaw is conservation technician at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute. A graduate of Jamestown Community College and Houghton College, her primary expertise and interests are in amphibians, reptiles, animal behavior and botany. She uses her plant identification skills to conduct vegetation surveys in important RTPI study sites.

As the class will spend some time outdoors, participants are reminded to dress for the weather, including sunscreen and insect repellent. Shoes and socks, rather than sandals, are recommended, as are long pants rather than shorts. The cost of the class is $20, or $15 for Friends of the Nature Center. Class size is limited to 15. Reservations are requested by Wednesday. To register, call 569-2345, visit the Audubon Center or click on “Grasses, Sedges, and Rushes ” at www.jamestownaudubon.org.

Audubon education programs are funded with support from the Carnahan Jackson Foundation, Jessie Smith Darrah Fund, Holmberg Foundation, Hultquist Foundation, Johnson Foundation and Lenna Foundation.

The Audubon Center & Sanctuary is at 1600 Riverside Road, one-quarter mile east of Route 62 between Jamestown and Warren. Hours for the Nature Center and Blue Heron Gift Shop are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1-4:30 p.m. Sundays. Audubon’s arboretum, gardens, trails, picnic tables, and exhibit of Liberty, Audubon’s non-releasable Bald Eagle, are open dawn to dusk daily.

For more information, call 569-2345 or visit www.jamestownaudubon.org.