Ornamental Grasses and Grasslike Plants

Oakes, A. J.

The Gramineae, or grass family, is second in size only to the Compositeae, or sunflower family. It is among the most important plant families in the world. The major food crops of the world are found in the grass family. From time immemorial, grasses have provided food and shelter for humanity, domesticated livestock, and wildlife; without grasses, these forms of life might cease to exist. The grass family is large in size, diverse in habit, and ubiquitous in distribution. Earth would be bleak and bare, indeed, in the absence of this life-sustaining plant family. In addition to its economic and industrial value, the grass family has some ornamental value. It provides us with physical sustenance and gives us much pleasure and satisfaction in its ornamental forms. The purpose of this book is to point out the value and usefulness of grasses as ornamentals and to deline:tte their attributes and uses in the home, in the garden, and in the landscape. Ornamental grasses serve a unique and significant purpose in ornamental horticulture. Horticulturists, other plant scientists, and nursery personnel are more fully aware of the value and usefulness of grasses as ornamentals than is the general public. It is mainly for this reason that this work is directed toward the home gardener and the scientist alike, in the hope of enhancing reader appreciation of the roie grasses play in ornamental horti­ culture.

Details

Published by: Springer

Publication Date: 2012-03-22

Format: Paperback

ISBN-13: 9781468414578

DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4684-1455-4

Dimensions: 229.0cm x152.0cm

Pages: 618.0