Grass is a type of plant.A common kind of grass is used to cover the ground, in a lawn.
Graminoidsare a broader group which includes the grasses. They are monocotyledons, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the family Poaceae(also called Gramineae), as well as the sedges(Cyperaceae) and therushes(Juncaceae). These three families are not closely related but belong to differentcladesin the order Poales.
The true grasses include cereals,bamboo and the grasses oflawns(turf) and grassland. Uses for graminoids include food(asgrain,sprouted grain,shoots orrhizomes), drink (beer,whisky),pasture for live stock, thatch, paper, fuel, clothing, insulation, construction, sports turf, basket weaving and many others.
Many grasses are short, but some grasses, like bamboo can grow very tall. Plants from the grass family can grow in many places, even if they are very cold or very dry. Several other plants that look similar but are not members of the grass family are also sometimes called grass; these includerushes,reeds,papyrus, andwater chestnut.
Grasses are an important food for many animals, like deer, buffalo, cattle, mice, grasshoppers, caterpillars, and many othergrazers. Unlike other plants, grasses grow from the bottom, so when animals eat grass they usually don't destroy the part that grows.Without grass, dirt can wash away into rivers. This is called erosion.
Evolution of grass
Graminoids include some of the most versatile plant life-forms. They became wide spread toward the end of theCretaceous. Fossilizeddinosaurdung (coprolites) have been found containing grassphytoliths(silicastones inside grass leaves).Grasses have adapted to conditions in lushrain forests, drydeserts, cold mountains and even intertidal habitats, and are now the most wide spread plant type. Grass is a valuable source of food and energy for many animals.
Grass and people
Lawn grass is often planted on sports fields and in the area around a building. Sometimes chemical sand water is used to help lawns to grow.
People have used grasses for a long time. People eat parts of grasses. Corn, wheat, barley, oats, rice and milletarecereals, common grains whose seeds are used for food and to makealcoholsuch as beer.
Sugar comes fromsugar cane, which is also a plant in the grass family. People have grown grasses as food forfarm animals for about 10,000 years. Grasses have also been used to make paper for more than 4000 years. Peopleuse bamboo to build houses, fences, furniture and other things. Grass plants can also be used as fuel, to cover roofs, and to weave baskets.Though most people don't think so , grass shouldn't be cut, it shreds the grass and causes brown spots on a lawn.Once grass has grown 9 inches,it will cut its self ,by the top up from the tiller .
 |
| Grass |
