Introduction

Grasses are monocotyledonous, mostly herbaceous (non woody) plants, belonging to the Poaceae plant family. Flowers are small and inconspicuous. Stems (culms) are jointed and mainly hollow except at the point where the leaf is attached (the node). Leaves have parallel veination, are typically narrow, and are attached at joints (easily visible bulges). The base of the leaf (sheath) wraps around the stem. The collar region (where the leaf blade joins the leaf sheath) has rapidly dividing (meristematic) tissue that allows the leaf blade to continue to grow after grazing or mechanical clipping. The ligule and auricles are structures that originate in the collar region and can be used to help identify grasses.