Grass

Grass

Grass is a type of plant. A common kind of grass is used to cover the ground, in a lawn. If it gets too cold or dry, lawn grass turns brown.

There is a family of plants called the "grass family". The plants in the grass family are called grasses, but many are different from lawn grass. A few of the other plants in the grass family are corn plants, wheat plants, rushes, reeds, rice, barley, oats, millet, papyrus, water chestnut, crabgrass, and many other important types of plants. Grass has thin, green leaves that are called blades. Many grasses are short, but some grasses, like bamboo can grow very tall. Plants from the grass family can grow in many places, even if they are very cold or very dry.

Grass in nature

Grasses are an important food for many animals, like deer, buffalo, cows, mice, grasshoppers, caterpillars, and many others. Without grass, dirt can wash away into rivers, this is called erosion. Sometimes grass's roots keep trees from growing very fast, so it is better to plant clover under trees.

This picture shows the parts of a grass plant.

Grass and people

Lawn grass is often planted on sports fields and in the area around a building. Many chemicals and a lot of water is used to grow lawn grass. This usually happens in suburbs.

People have used grasses for a long time. People eat parts of grasses. Corn, wheat, barley, oats, rice and millet are common grains used for food and to make alcohol such as beer. Sugar comes from sugar cane, which is also a plant in the grass family. People have grown grasses as food for farm animals for about 10,000 years. Grasses have also been used to make paper for more than 4000 years. People use bamboo to build houses, fences, furniture, flutes, and other things. Grass plants can also be used as fuel, to cover roofs, and to weave baskets.

Language

In English, the word "grass" appears in several phrases. For example:

• "The grass is always greener on the other side" means "people are never happy with what they have and want something else."
• "Don't let the grass grow under your feet" means "Do something".
• "A snake in the grass" is about a person that will be not be honest and will trick others.
• Grass is sometimes used as a slang term for cannabis (also called pot, weed, or marijuana).

Other websites

• Robot that cuts grass: video.