CLASSIFICATION

POACEAE (Gramineae) – Grass Family 

Grasses are the most versatile plant life-forms on the earth belong to class Monocotyledons. They occupy large tracts of land and are evenly distributed in all parts of the world.  They belong to Family Poaceae .This family ranks at fifth place, the first four places being occupied respectively by Compositae, Leguminosae, Orchidaceae and Rubiaceae. They germinate in every type of soil and under all climatic conditions. In certain places grasses form a leading feature of the flora. Grasses do not like shade; they are not usually abundant within the forests either as regards the number of individuals, or of species. But in open places they do very well and sometimes whole tracts become grass-lands. 

CLASSIFICATION
Class- Monocotyledons

·         Embryo with single cotyledon.

·         Venation parallel.

·         Flower trimerous.

Series- Glumaceae

·         Flower solitary, sessile in the axil of bract and enclosed in glumes.

·         Perianth of the scale or none.

·         Ovary superior, unilocular with one ovule. 

Family- Divided into two Families
1. Cyperaceae

·         Perinnial herbs with 3-angled stem.

·         Flowers in spikelet’s, naked and Hermaphrodite or unisexual.

·         Leaves with sheathing base without lemma and palea.

·         Perianth absent and stigma linear.

·         Gynoecium 2-3 carpellary, syncarpous, superior and unilocular with one ovule.

·         Nut trigonous.

2. Poaceae

·         Herbs or shrubs with hollow internodes and jointed stem

·         Leaves distichous with distinct sheath enclosing the stem and linear blade with often a ligule at their junction.

·         Flowers in spikelet with two glumes, reduced and enclosed in lemma and palea.

·         Perianth represented by lodicules, ovary superior and stigmas feathery

·         Fruit caryopsis

CUCURBITACEAE – Cucurbit or Gourd Family

Climbing plants use other plants or rocks and manmade structures for support. They belong to class Dicotyledons. Climbers are mainly distributed in the tropics and subtropics, in temperate regions often found in cultivation. Released from the function of holding up the plant shoots, the stems possess little or no ability to bear any weight (compression), but instead they are very flexible and have considerable tensile strength, meaning that stems have evolved characteristics to resist pulling and twisting.

 

CLASSIFICATION
Class- Dicotyledons

·         Embryo with two cotyledons.

·         Venation reticulate.

·         Flowers tetramerous or pentamerous.

Subclass- Polypetalae

·         Flowers with two whorls of perianth.

·         Inner petals free.

Series- Calyciflorae

·         Sepals united adnate to ovary.

·         Flowers perigynous or epigynous.

Order- Passiflorales

·         Flower epigynous.

·         Styles free or united and carpels united.

·         Placentation parietal.

Family- Cucurbitaceae

·         Plant tendril climber

·         Leaves palmately lobed.

·         Flowers unisexual, anther monothecous, stamens 5 and variously united.

·         Placentation becoming false axile due to intruded placentae.

·         Fruit a berry or pepo.

           

 

Read More

INTRODCUTION

Grasses and Climbers are the most important groups of Angiosperms. Both belong to different divisions, families and orders. The grass family Poaceae, formerly called Gramineae belongs to division monocotyledon and order Poales is one of the largest plant families, comprising about 700 genera and 10,000 species (Macfarlane). Grasses are the most versatile plant life-forms on the earth. They are evenly distributed in all parts of the world and occupy a wide range of latitudes, altitudes and habitats, from wet and dry tropical to arctic.  This family ranks at fifth place, the first four places being occupied respectively by Compositae, Leguminosae, Orchidaceae and Rubiaceae. They germinate in every type of soil and under all climatic conditions. In certain places grasses form a leading feature of the flora. Grasses do not like shade; they are not usually abundant within the forests either as regards the number of individuals, or of species. But in open places they do very well and sometimes whole tracts become grass-lands. The Poaceae are the world’s single most important source of food. They are important ecologically frequent components of vegetation, dominating in grasslands and savannas, as well as providing food for grazing animals. Grasses are also of great economic importance, comprising the three most important food crops, wheat, rice and maize (corn), as well as several of the other top 20 food crops. They also contribute other products, including fodder, fiber and construction materials (from bamboos). Plant communities dominated by grasses account for about 24 percent of the Earth’s vegetation. On the other hand Climber plants not widely distributed they use other plants or rocks and manmade structures for support. There are 90 genera, 700 species, mainly belongs to tropical and subtropical regions. They belong to class Dicotyledons. Climbers are mainly distributed in the tropics and subtropics, in temperate regions often found in cultivation. Released from the function of holding up the plant shoots, the stems possess little or no ability to bear any weight (compression), but instead they are very flexible and have considerable tensile strength, meaning that stems have evolved characteristics to resist pulling and twisting. These two groups are very complex in their structure and less is known about them but both are economically important for humans.  

Read More

Poa annua

  

BOTANICAL NAME-         Poa annua

COMMON NAME-             Annual bluegrass

FAMILY-                               Poaceae 

DESCRIPTION-

Annual bluegrass is a short, cool-season annual, biennial, or perennial grass. It is highly variable and is one of the most common weeds found throughout the dwarka campus. It can easily be distinguished from other grasses by its leaf tip, which is shaped like the bow of a boat. Annual bluegrass growth is characterized by the spreading of dense and low clumps. Leaf blades are hairless, often yellowish green, and sometimes dark green. They are often crinkled at the midsection. It often roots at lower stem nodes and the root system is fibrous. 

USES-

• Many of the species are important pasture plants, used extensively by grazing livestock.

• According to Galen, the roots of certain species are good for treating fresh wounds and bleeding.

• In the sixteenth century, Poa grasses were used for inflammation of the kidney.

• Some of the Poa species are popular for gardens and for landscaping.

Read More