Facts about Grass
Some species can grow as tall as 40 meters (130 feet), making them the tallest grass by far.
A great part of the world's grasslands have now been converted to human use.
Wheat is an annual, as are all other grasses grown for grain, since they produce more seeds than perennials.
Lawns are planted with various species of perennial grasses (Kentucky bluegrass, Poa pratensis, is one of the most commonly used) and sometimes with clover and other plants.
Most grasses grow low to the ground, although a few, such as corn, sugar cane, and bamboo, are tall.
Many other types of plants besides grasses also grow in grasslands including trees, shrubs, and annual wildflowers.
The grass family, Poaceae, is one of the largest plant families, and, to humans, perhaps the most important, as it includes agricultural grains such as wheat, rice, maize (corn), and sugar cane.
Grasses, like orchids and palms are flowering plants (angiosperms) having only one cotyledon, or embryo leaf, and are called monocotyledons.
Prairies are grasslands found in temperate climates with moderate rainfall, and they have taller grasses than other grasslands.
Most grasses send out creeping stems, called stolons if they grow above the ground and rhizomes if they grow below the ground, from which new plants grow.
Pastures are grasslands where forest growth is hindered by human activity, not climate.
Today, most human food comes from grasses, directly as grain or indirectly as feed for meat and dairy producing animals.
Among the natural types of grasslands are prairies, steppes, and savannas.
Many other types of plants besides grasses also grow in grasslands including trees, shrubs, and annual wildflowers.
At the same time, animals were also being domesticated and soon sheep, goats, and cattle were grazing on wild grasslands and providing food for humans.
An overview of these other "grasses" is presented in the section on "grasses" outside the Poaceae family.
The animals kept the grass clipped to an even level, which looked nice and provided a pleasant surface for strolling, resting, and sports.
Among the natural types of grasslands are prairies, steppes, and savannas.
Grasslands support a rich community of living things, from large herbivores such as bison, kangaroos, and antelopes, down to insects and worms.
About 10,000 years ago, people in the Middle East started to plant wheat, barley, and other grasses and harvest the grains.