Graminoid

Common traits

A graminoid is a plant that has a simple structure of repeated parts that have their meristems, growing parts, within their stems. They frequently have well-developed ways of reproducing vegetatively, without needing to grow from pollinated seeds. As a group, the graminoids produce fewer toxins than other plants and instead rely on physical defenses against being eaten by herbivores. Their evolution has been in response to grazing by both mammals and insects.

Ecology

Besides their similar morphology, graminoids share a widespread occurrence and often dominance in open habitats such as grasslands or marshes. They can, however, also be found in the understory of forests. Sedges and rushes tend to prefer wetter habitats than grasses.

Gallery

File:Pitrus (Juncus effusus) 05.JPG|alt=Common rush in shallow water|Common rush (Juncus effusus), Juncaceae File:Cyperus capitatus 01.jpg|alt=Nutsedge on dune|Nutsedge (Cyperus capitatus), Cyperaceae File:Festuca cinerea a1.jpg|alt=Fescue grass tuft|Festuca cinerea, Poaceae

Etymology

The word graminoid is derived from Latin 'grass; herb', with the suffix denoting '-like; resembling, characteristic of'. The Latin grāmen may be related to the English grass through a common word in the Proto-Indo-European language. However, grass is a Germanic word comparable to the Old Frisian gres or Old High German gras. In Old English it was gærsum which changed over time into the modern word. It was first spelled grass in 1393, but continued to be spelled variously through at least 1637.

References

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References

1. (2017). "A Dictionary of Environment and Conservation". Oxford University Press.