Family Poaceae (Gramineae)

Family Poaceae (Gramineae)

The Grasses (Gramineae or Poaceae) are an enormously successful group of plants. There are between 6,000 and 10,000 different species and they can be found everywhere that plants can grow. They range in size from a couple of cm tall to over 30 metres. Grasses have long thin leaves and very small flowers clustered in heads and spikes. Members of the Grass Family were the first plants to be cultivated as food and the grain plants, wheat rice oats barley corn rye millet and sorghums all belong in this family. [CH] {FW}