Grass

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses, see Grass (disambiguation).

An area of grass-like plants

Grass generally describes a monocotyledonous green plant in the family Poaceae, botanically regarded as true grasses. However, there are many plants outside the Poaceae family that have similar appearances to grass, with leaves rising vertically from the ground, and which are commonly called "grasses", or have "grass" as part of their name. By contrast, there are a number of plants in the family Poaceae, such as maize, bamboo, and sugarcane, which do not resemble plants that lay persons commonly think of as grasses. Many plants that look like grasses are actually in other families, like rushes (Juncaceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae).

[edit] Plants called grass

Mondo grass - one of many grass-like plants not in the Poaceae family.

These include:

• Cannabis (more commonly known as marijuana)
• China grass, more commonly known as Ramie (Boehmeria nivea), a nettle grown for bast fibres, in the family Urticaceae
• Ditch grass or Wigeon grass (Ruppia maritima) in the family Ruppiaceae
• Fish grass (Cabomba caroliniana), a freshwater aquatic
• Goosegrass (Galium aparine)
• Lemongrass (Cymbopogon)
• Mondo grass or Lily turf (Ophiopogon japonicus), an Asian ornamental ground cover
• Nutgrass, a common lawn pest (Cyperus rotundus) in the family Cyperaceae
• Pepper grass (Lipidium spp.) in the family Brassicaceae
• Sawgrass, abundant in sub-tropical marshlands (Cladium spp.) in the family Cyperaceae
• Scurvy-grass (Cochlearia species) in the family Brassicaceae
• Scurvy-grass Sorrel (Oxalis enneaphylla) in the family Oxalidaceae
• Seagrasses, including Eel grass (Zostera spp.)
• "Sleeping grass" (Mimosa pudica), a legume (family Fabaceae) and lawn weed
• Xyridaceae, known as the yellow-eyed grass family.

Grasses and grass-like plants are among the most versatile of life forms, thriving on every continent except Antarctica. They have existed for millions of years, providing fodder for Cretaceous dinosaurs, whose fossilized dung contains phytoliths of a variety of grasses that include the ancestors of rice and bamboo (Piperno & Sues, 2005). Grasses have adapted to conditions in lush rain forests, dry deserts, and cold mountain steppes.

[edit] Work with grass

In some places, even small grass areas are valuable property. The staircase was built with purpose to climb and cut the grass from this large stone, for feeding the animals. Swiss-Italian region near Bignasco.

The typical old method to prepare the dried grass for feeding animals during winter (preparing hay) includes

• Cutting with a scythe.
• Spreading the cut grass evenly over the ground with a rake.
• After some time, turning the grass other side up, as the bottom side dries very slowly. Depending on the locale and its weather, it may be necessary to repeat this several times. This work is usually also done with a rake.
• Collecting the dried grass and moving it into storage, using a rake and a pitchfork.

If the rain comes, the grass being dried must be immediately moved into the heaps and distributed evenly again after the rain passes.

The modern agriculture industry uses alternative mechanised methods to prepare hay, as this manual method using primitive tools is extremely labor-intensive.

[edit] Grass and society

Grass covered house in Iceland

Grasses and grass-like plants have long had significance in human society. They have been cultivated as food sources for domesticated animals for up to 10,000 years (see grass fed beef), and have been used to make paper since at least as early as 2400 B.C.. In modern suburbia, a well-maintained grassy lawn is a sign of responsibility to the overall appearance of the neighborhood.

Some idioms evoke images of grass. For example:

• "The grass is always greener on the other side" explaining how human beings want what another has.
• "Don't let the grass grow under your feet" references the speed with which grass grows.
• "A snake in the grass" cautions about the danger that may be hidden in plants that cover the ground.

[edit] See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Grass

• Lawn
• Pasture
• Grassland

[edit] References

• Chapman, G.P. and W.E. Peat. 1992. An Introduction to the Grasses. CAB Internat., Oxon, UK.
• Cheplick, G.P. 1998. Population Biology of Grasses. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
• Milne, L. and M. Milne. 1967. Living Plants of the World. Chaticleer Press, N.Y.
• Soderstrom, T.R., K.W. Hilu, C.S. Campbell, and M.E. Barkworth, eds. 1987. Grass Systematics and Evolution. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C.
• Went, Frits W. 1963. The Plants. Time-Life Books, N.Y.