| Summary: | Edited by Laurel K. Anderton and Mary E. Barkwroth. Illustrated by Cindy Talbot Roché, Linda Ann Vorobik, Sandy Long, Annaliese Miller, Bee F. Gunn, and Christine Roberts. Includes bibliographical references and index. Grasses are an integral component of almost all terrestrial ecosystems, both natural and artificial. In some areas they are conspicuous, dominating the vegetation over large areas in others, they are easily overlooked, our eyes being drawn first to trees, shrubs, and colorful flowers. Nevertheless, they are, in many respects, the worlds most successful plants, growing from tropical rain forests to arctic tundra, from ocean beaches to freshwater streams and lakes, and from strongly saline to strongly acidic soils. Their success can be attributed to many factors, not least the ability of pooid grasses to grow in cold climates, a remarkable achievement for plants whose ancestors evolved in tropical forests. Other lineages are more conspicuous in warm climates, the andropogonoid grasses that are most abundant in areas with a monsoonal climate, and panicoid grasses that flourish in warm climates with more or less evenly distributed rainfall--Balogh International. Taxonomic Treatments -- POACEAE or GRAMINEAE -- Key to Tribes -- BAMBUSOIDEAE -- EHRHARTOIDEAE -- POOIDEAE -- ARUNDINOIDEAE -- CHLORIDOIDEAE -- DANTHONIOIDEAE -- ARISTIDOIDEAE -- PANICOIDEAE -- Illustrations -- Distribution Maps.
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