Poaceae (Gramineae)

Angiosperm Phylogeny Group Order Poales Angiosperm Phylogeny Group

Avena (oats) Oryza (rice) Triticum (wheat) Poaceae is by far the most economically important family of angiosperms. Saccharum (sugarcane) Zea (corn) Bambusa (bamboo)

Poaceae is the most economically important group of angiosperms. Oryza (rice), Triticum (wheat), Avena (oats), Zea (corn), Secale (rye) Staple cereals: Sugar: Saccharum (sugarcane), Sorghum Alcohol: Oryza (sake), Saccharum (rum), Hordeum (beer), Secale and Zea (whiskey) Other stuff: Forage and fodder, paper and building materials (e.g. bamboo), essential oils (e.g. lemongrass), ornamental and turf grasses.

Angiosperm Phylogeny Group Poaceae family diversity: 13 subfamilies 668 genera 10,035 species 85 genera in New England 55 in Vermont Angiosperm Phylogeny Group

Poaceae distribution: Angiosperm Phylogeny Group Cosmopolitan distribution, specializing in drier sites.

Vegetative characters: Perennial and sometimes annual herbs Upright stems (culms) round Nodes swollen Internodes hollow Leaves alternate, simple, entire, with parallel venation. Sheathing at base, sheath open. Ligule often present

Reproductive characters: Perianth, if present, of lodicules Androecium of usually 3 stamens Ovary superior, of 3 fused carpels Fruit a caryopsis

Reproductive characters: Floral Formula:

Reproductive characters: Florets are enclosed by two bracts, the palea and the lemma palea lemma rachilla

Reproductive characters:

Reproductive characters: Florets are arranged in spikelets, these subtended by a pair of glumes glumes

‘Telescoped’ spikelet ‘Exploded’ spikelet of brome grass glumes ‘Telescoped’ spikelet ‘Exploded’ spikelet of brome grass

Inflorescence types vary: raceme panicle spike

Caryopsis (grain) Achene Loculicidal capsule Fruit Reduced to 2 (or 3) scales Absent or of bristles or scales Usually 6 chaffy tepals Perianth Spikelets Each flower subtended by 2 bracts (lemma and palea Each flower subtended by one bract (scale) Basically cymose and often congested Each flower subtended by 2 bracts Inflorescence 2-ranked Blades flat Open sheath 3-ranked Closed sheath Blades flat to terete Leaves Terete or ellipsoid Internodes hollow (to solid) Nodes jointed Triangular (not always visible) Internodes usually solid Nodes not jointed Terete in cross section Internodes solid with large pith Stems Various Wetlands and upland woods Mostly wet areas Habitat POACEAE (Grasses) CYPERACEAE (Sedges) JUNCACEAE (Rushes) Character