Grasses are familar plants and are members of the Graminea family, which is the largest of the monocotyledon plants with over 600 genera and ten thousand species, most of which are tropical. They can take many different forms from those that are erect, tall and tufted to short, creeping varieties. They can range in height from 2 cm to 30 m (the giant bamboos).
Grasses generally have long narrow, parallel-veined leaves or blades inserted into a round hollow sheath which fits closely to the stem (culm). The stem is divided but by nodes which are swollen joints along the stem where leaves may form.
Inconspicuous flowers are usually borne in a terminal panicle or spike, which usually consists of a number of spikelets.