− | The family '''Poaceae''', in the Class [[Liliopsida]] of the [[Magnoliophyta|flowering plants]], is also known as '''Gramineae'''. Plants of this family are usually called '''[[grass]]es'''. There are about 600 [[genus|genera]] and between 9,000-10,000 [[species]] of grasses (Kew Index of World Grass Species). Plant communities dominated by Poaceae are called [[grassland]]s; it is estimated that grasslands comprise 20% of the vegetation cover of the earth. This family is the most important of all plant families to human economies: it includes the staple [[food]] grains grown around the world, lawn and forage grasses, and [[bamboo]], widely used for construction throughout [[Asia]]. | + | The family '''Poaceae''', in the Class [[Liliopsida]] of the [[Magnoliophyta|flowering plants]], is also known as '''Gramineae'''. Plants of this family are usually called '''[[grass]]es'''. There are about 600 [[genus|genera]] and between 9,000-10,000 [[species]] of grasses (Kew Index of World Grass Species). Plant communities dominated by Poaceae are called [[grassland]]s; it is estimated that grasslands comprise 20% of the vegetation cover of the earth. This family is the most important of all plant families to human economies: it includes the staple [[food]] [[grains]] grown around the world, lawn and [[forage grass]]es, and [[bamboo]], widely used for construction throughout [[Asia]]. |
| The term "grass" is also applied to many [[Grass#Other plants called grass|grass-like plants not in the Poaceae]], leading to plants of the Poaceae often being called "true grasses". | | The term "grass" is also applied to many [[Grass#Other plants called grass|grass-like plants not in the Poaceae]], leading to plants of the Poaceae often being called "true grasses". |