Grasses grow just about anywhere – in fields, wetlands, saltmarshes, mountaintops, deserts, and even in shady forests. There are ten thousand species worldwide, covering a quarter of the earth’s land in prairies, savannahs, pampas, and steppes. Grasses support huge populations of grazing animals, and produce prodigious amounts of seeds – the grains that feed our livestock and us.
Many people are surprised to learn that grasses are flowering plants, for their flowers are tiny and inconspicuous. They may be small, but grass flowers add subtle colors to the landscape. Covered with tiny blossoms, the flower heads of blue-joint give a rosy blush to wet meadows in summer. The dried leaves and seed heads of many grasses lend a golden haze to the landscape in the fall.
Grasses depend on wind for pollination. When grasses are in bloom, you may notice the dangling stamens, releasing clouds of fine pollen at the slightest touch. With a hand lens, you can see the feathery and often brightly colored pistils, out to catch a flying pollen grain.
In each tiny flower a seed forms – the grains that we and so many other animals depend upon for food. Rice, oats, wheat, barley, corn, rye, and millet are all the seeds of grasses, foods rich in starch and protein, easy to store and plentiful.
We hope you have a moment to observe and admire some of your nearby grasses in the coming weeks! Here is a grass safari with prompts to take a closer look: