Grass Family (Poaceae or Graminae)

1. Grass Family (Poaceae or Graminae) General Information Part of the Liliopsida Class Flowering monocot 4th largest plant family 600-700 genus’s 9000-10000 species Poaceae are ofter called the “true grasses” Examples include: wheat, rice, corn, barley, oats, sugar, sorghum, bamboo, and millet Food cereals-rice, wheat, maize (provide half of calories eaten by humans) Grows on all continents Grasslands can be found in deserts, freshwater, marine habitats, highest elevations, forests, and tundra’s. 20% of world is dominated by grasslands The most important plant families in the human economy because 50% of humanities calories come from this family, and as well used for lawns, and industry, provides forage for mammals The fruit of the Grass Family is called caryopsis Evolved 30-40 million years ago Physical aspects: Small, reduced flowers, linear sheathing leaves, round stems that are hollow at theinternodes, leaves are arranged in 2 rows. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poaceae,/hcs.osu.edu/hcs300/poa.htm /hcs.osu.edu/hcs300/poa.htm