Grass
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.
Encyclopedia
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.
Plants called grass
These include:
...
es, including Eel grass
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 . Grasses have adapted to conditions in lush
rain forests, dry
deserts, and cold mountain
steppes.
Work with grass
The typical old method to prepare the dried grass for feeding animals during winter includes
- Cutting with scythe.
- Spreading evenly over the ground with rake.
- After some time, turning the grass other side up, as the bottom side dries very slowly. Depending from the place and weather, it may be necesary to repeat this several times. This work is usually also done with rake.
- Collecting the dried grass and moving it into storage, using rake and pitchfork
[i]
[i]
...
.
If the rain comes, the grass being dried must be immediately moved into the heaps and distributed evenly again after the rain passes.
This method only needs the most primitive tools, despite the mechanisation is also possible. It is considered very work extensive. The modern agriculture industry also has the alternative methods of the hay preparation.
Grass and society
Grasses and grass-like plants have long had significance in human society, having been cultivated as food sources for
domesticated animals for up to 10,000 years , and has 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" suggests that the greenness of grass is a positive quality.
- "Don't let the grass grow under your feet" references the speed with which grass grows.
- "A snake in the grass" cautions about the dangers that may be hidden in plants that cover the ground.
See also
References
- Chapman, G.P. and W.E. Peat. 1992. An Introduction to the Grasses. CAB Internat., Oxon, U.K.
- 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.
