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Grasses is the common name for a large
group of plants that are generally the most valuable to human and
animal life as food sources throughout the world. All the cereal
crops grown for consumption are grasses, including barley, corn,
rice and wheat.
Grasses are the number one food source for wild and domestic
grazing animals, whether feeding directly from pastures and
natural grasslands, or eating the hay and silage farmers
cultivate.
Perennial grasses are also the primary material used for lawns.
In many parts of the U.S., Kentucky bluegrass and different types
of fescue are utilized. (Kentucky bluegrass is NOT a native
Kentucky plant.)
Most flowers of the grasses are pollinated by the wind and are
simple structures that are sometimes produced in large clusters,
as in corn for example. The tassels are made up of individual male
flowers and the young ears on the corn stalks are clusters of
female flowers.
Grasses occur naturally from Antarctica to above the Arctic
Circle. |
Copyright K.R. Robertson. Used with
permission.
The prairie
dropseed is a warm-season grass with fine foliage that creates a
supple dance-like movement when blowing in the wind. The species
pictured above is native to the central areas of North America,
including Kentucky.
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