3 Facts About Grass

To animals its food, and to us its something to be mowed, but grass is so much more than that. Here are three quick facts about the under appreciated grass, plus a little extra.

1. There are a lot of different kinds of grass.

In total there are over 10,000 types of grass, and they all belong to the Poaceae or Graminae family. Grasses are split up into many different groups though. There are turf grasses (the grasses that grow in places like your yard, golf courses, and playgrounds), forage grasses (which are grasses used for livestock grazing), and cereals (such as wheat, barley, rye, oats, rice, and corn) among others.

2. Palm trees are a type of grass.


That's right palm trees are technically classified as grasses. Grasses are monocots, which means that they have one seed and a fibrous stem, and palm trees fit those requirements. Although they are often categorized as trees because of their size.

3. Grass is used to make some alcoholic beverages.

Whiskey is made with barley, rye, and wheat. And sake is made with rice.

Bonus Fact

Botanists refer to grass as "graminoids", and the scientific study of grass is called agrostology (sometimes graminology).