Grass

For other uses, see Grass (disambiguation).

A grassy swamp

Grass generally describes a monocotyledonous green plant characterized by slender leaves, called blades, which usually grow arching upwards from the ground. Plants that are botanically regarded as "true" grasses fall into the flowering plant family, Poaceae. However, there are other plants outside this plant family that have similar appearance, and are commonly referred to as grasses, or have "grass" as part of their name. These include:

• 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)
• Mondo grass or Lily turf (Ophiopogon japonicus), an Asian ornamental ground cover
• Nutgrass, a common lawn pest (Cyperus rotundus) in the Family Cyperaceae
• Pepper grasses (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
• Turfgrass
• Xyridaceae, known as the yellow-eyed grass family

Grasses 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 [1]. Grasses have adapted to conditions in lush rain forests, dry deserts, and cold mountain steppes.

Grass and society

Grass covered house in Iceland

Grass has long had significance in human society. It has been cultivated as a food source 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.
• Don't let the grass grow under your feet.
• A snake in the grass.

In popular culture

• Tom Jones released a song called "The Green, Green Grass of Home"

See also

• List of Lepidoptera which feed on grasses
• Poaceae

References

• Living Plants of the World. Lorus and Margery Milne, Chaticleer Press, N.Y. (1967).
• The Plants. Frits W. Went, Time-Life Books, N.Y. (1963).

grass is usually green from the chloroplasts inside of it.