23. POACEAE
DIAGNOSTIC CHARACTERS
DIAGNOSTIC CHARACTERS OF POACEAE
⚫ Stem is Cylindrical and Hollow.
⚫ Leaves are Alternate Distichously and Ligulate.
⚫ Spikelet Inflorescence.
⚫ Presence of Lodicule.
⚫ Anthers are Versatile.
⚫ Stigma is Feathery.
⚫ Fruit is Caryopsis.
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24. POACEAE
GENERAL CHARACTERS
DISTINGUISHING / GENERAL CHARACTERS OF POACEAE
⚫ PLANTS are Mostly Annual, Biennial or Perennial Herbs, and Few
Arborescent Trees.
⚫ ROOT is Adventitious Fibrous.
⚫ STEM is Aerial, Erect, Unbranched, Herbaceous or Woody, Hollow or
Solid.
⚫ LEAVES are Simple, Ligulate, Alternate Distichous and Parallel
Venation. Leaf has Leaf Sheath and Long Narrow Leaf Blade.
⚫ INFLORESENCE is Racemose-Spike or Panicle.
⚫ FLOWERS are Pedicellate, Bracteate(Lemma), Bracteolate(Palea),
Bisexual or Unisexual, Trimerous, Actinomorphic and Hypogynous.
⚫ PERIANTH is made up of 2-3 Tepals and may Reduced in to Lodicules.
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25. POACEAE
GENERAL CHARACTERS
⚫ ANDROECIUM
⚫ Made up of 3 or 6 Stamens and are Free.
⚫ ANTHERS are Dithecous, Versatile and Dehisce
longitudinally
⚫ GYNOECIUM
⚫ OVARY is Monocarpellary, Unilocular, and Superior with
One Ovule on Basal Placentation.
⚫ STYLE is Branched in to Two.
⚫ STIGMA is Feathery.
⚫ POLLINATION is Anemophily.
⚫ FRUIT is Dry Indehiscent – Caryopsis.
⚫ SEEDS are Endospermous.
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26. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF POACEAE
-VEGETATIVE MORPHOLOGY
VEGETATIVE MORPHOLOGY
DISTRIBUTION
⚫ The Family Poaceae (Gramineae) is Commonly Called Grass
Family. It Consists of 620 Genera and 6000 Species and
The members are Cosmopolitan Distribution, excepts Polar
and other Cold Regions.
HABIT
⚫ Annual Herbs - Oryza
⚫ Perennial Herbs - Grasses
⚫ Arborescent Tree- Bambusa
HABITAT
⚫ Mesophytes
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27. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF POACEAE
-VEGETATIVE MORPHOLOGY
ROOT
• Adventitious Fibrous Root
System.
STEM
• In Sugarcane, the Stem is
Aerial, Erect, Herbaceous,
Cylindrical and Solid
• In Bambusa, the Stem is Aerial,
Erect, Woody, Cylindrical and
Hollow except at Nodes
• In Grasses, the Stem is Sub-
Aerial –Runner.
• Stem is Branching by Tillers.
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28. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF POACEAE
-VEGETATIVE MORPHOLOGY
• LEAVES
• Simple, Sessile, Ligulate,
Alternate Distichous and
Parallel Venation.
• The Leaf Base Forming
Leaf Sheath Around the
Stem.
• The Leaf Lamina is
Linear or Lanceolate.
• In Bambusa, the Leaf is
Petiolate.
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29. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF POACEAE
REPRODUCTIVE MORPHOLOGY
REPRODUCTIVE MORPHOLOGY
INFLORESENCE
⚫ Racemose – Terminal Panicle consists of Smaller Units called
Spikelets.
FLOWER
⚫ Pedicellate, Bracteate(Lemma), Bracteolate(Palea), Bisexual or
Unisexual, Trimerous, Actinomorphic and Hypogynous.
⚫ In Zea mays, Flowers are Unisexual.
PERIANTH
⚫ Tepals- 2 - Many, Reduced in to Wedge Shaped, Hyaline,
Hygroscopic Lodicules.
⚫ In Oryza sativa, Lodicules are Two
⚫ In Bambusa, Lodicules are Three
⚫ In Ochlandra, Lodicules are Numerous.
⚫
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30. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF POACEAE
REPRODUCTIVE MORPHOLOGY
ANDROECIUM
⚫ STAMENS are 3- 6 and Polyandrous.
⚫ Stamens are 3 – Triticum
⚫ Stamens are 6 –Oryza, Bambusa, Zea
⚫ In Ochlandra, Stamens are Numerous and
Monoadelphous.
⚫ In Uniola, Androecium made up of Single Stamen.
⚫ ANTHERS are Dithecous, Versatile and Dehisce
longitudinally
⚫
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31. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF POACEAE
REPRODUCTIVE MORPHOLOGY
GYNOECIUM
⚫ OVARY is Monocarpellary, Unilocular, Superior with One Ovule on
Basal Placentation.
⚫ STYLE is Terminal, Simple or Branched into 2-3.
⚫ STIGMA is Feathery.
POLLINATION
⚫ Flowers are Small and Numerous. So, the Pollination is carried by
Wind (Anemophily).
FRUIT
⚫ Fruit is Dry Indehiscent – Caryopsis. The Pericarp is fused with the
Seed Coat, called Bran.
SEEDS
⚫ Seed has a Large Endosperm with a minute Embryo.
⚫ Embryo has a Single Cotyledon called Scutellum.
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32. POACEAE
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF ORYZA Sp.
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF ORYZA Sp.
HABIT
⚫ Cultivated Annual Herb for Food.
HABITAT
⚫ Mesophytes-Tropical to Temperate.
ROOT
⚫ Adventitious Fibrous Root System.
STEM
⚫ Aerial, Erect, Cylindrical and Hollow except at Nodes.
⚫ Stem is Branching by Tillers.
LEAVES
⚫ Simple, Ligulate, Alternate and Parallel Venation.
⚫ Leaf has Leaf Sheath and Leaf Lamina is Linear.
⚫
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34. POACEAE
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF ORYZA Sp.
INFLORESENCE
⚫ Racemose – Terminal Panicle consists of Smaller Units called
Spikelets.
FLOWER
⚫ Pedicellate, Bracteate(Lemma), Bracteolate(Palea), Bisexual,
Trimerous, Actinomorphic and Hypogynous.
PERIANTH
⚫ Tepals- 2, Reduced in to Lodicules.
ANDROECIUM
⚫ STAMENS are 6 and Polyandrous.
⚫ ANTHERS are Dithecous, Versatile and Dehisce longitudinally
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35. POACEAE
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF ORYZA Sp.
GYNOECIUM
⚫ OVARY is Monocarpellary, Unilocular, and Superior with One
Ovule on Basal Placentation.
⚫ STYLE is Branched in to Two.
⚫ STIGMA is Feathery.
POLLINATION is Anemophily.
FRUIT is Dry Indehiscent – Caryopis Enclosed by Glume and
Palea.
SEEDS are Endospermous
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36. POACEAE
SPIKELET OF PADDY
SPIKELET OF PADDY
• The Spikelet has a Short
Central Axis called Rachilla.
• The Spikelet consists of
• 5 - Glumes
• 2 - Lodicules
• 6 - Stamens and
• 1 - Pistil.
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37. POACEAE
SPIKELET OF PADDY
⚫ The Lower Most Two Bracts in Rachilla are Small, Membranous and
United called Sterile Glume - I and Sterile Glume - II.
⚫ The Middle Two Bracts in Rachilla are Empty and Boat shaped
called Sterile Glume - III and Sterile Glume - IV.
⚫ The Fifth Bract having a Flower in its axil is called Fertile Glume -V or
Lemma and the Bracteole that opposite to the Lemma is called Palea.
⚫ The Flower has 2-Lodicules, 6 Stamens and a Pistil
⚫ Lodicules are Two Wedge shaped Membranous Reduced Perianth.
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38. POACEAE
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF POACEAE
CEREAL PLANTS
⚫ AVENA SATIVA -OATS
⚫ ORYZA SATIVA -PADDY
⚫ TRITICUM VULGARE -WHEAT
⚫ ZEA MAYS -CORN
⚫ HORDEUM VULGARE -BARLEY
⚫ PENNISETUM TYPHOIDES -PEARL MILLET
⚫ ELEUSINE CORACANA -FINGER MILLET
⚫ SETARIA ITALICA -FOXTAIL MILLET
⚫ ANDROPOGON SORGHUM -ANDROPOGON
⚫ Grains are used as Staple Food for Mankinds.
⚫ Straw of Plants are used as Fodder for Cattle.
⚫ Grains are also used to prepare Alcoholic Beverages like Arrack,
Whisky and Rum.
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39. POACEAE
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
ELEUSINE CORACANA -FINGER MILLET
⚫ Seeds are used for Cold, Fever, Burning Sensation, Breathing Difficulties,
Thirst, Strangers (Slow and Painful Discharge of Urine)
SACCHARUM OFFICINARUM -SUGARCANE
⚫ Plant is Cultivate for Sugar and Juices.
CYNODON DACTYLON -DHUB GRASS
⚫ Whole plant is used for Thirst, Fever, Burning Sensation, Scabies, Skin
Diseases, Chronic Diarrhoea, Dysentery, Wounds and Hemorrhage.
⚫ Grass are grown to Form Play Grounds and Lawns in Gardens, Parks etc.,
BAMBUSA BAMBOS -BAMBOO
⚫ Roots are used for Leprosy, Ringworm and Skin Diseases.
⚫ Leaves are used for Piles, Diarrhoea and Skin Diseases.
⚫ The Stem is used for Construction, Making Boats etc
⚫ Plant is used in the Manufacture of Papers.
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40. POACEAE
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
DESMOSTACHYA BIPINNATA -SACRIFICIAL GRASS
⚫ Roots are used for Asthma, Tuberculosis, Jaundice, Pain in the
Urinary Bladder.
VETEVERIA ZIZANOIDES -VETIVER
⚫ The Essential Volatile Aromatic Oil is extracted from the Root
and used as Perfumes.
CYMBOPOGON CITRATUS -INDIAN LEMON GRASS
⚫ Lemon Grass Oil is obtained from the Leaves and used in
Perfumes.
⚫ Plant is Aromatic, Carminative, Stimulant and used for
Stomachache, Vomiting and Arthritis. It is also Repels
Mosquitoes.
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41. POACEAE
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
ANDROPOGON Sp. -Bluestem Grass
⚫ Grass Oil Extracted from the Plant and used in Perfumes.
DENDROCALAMUS Sp. -Solid Bamboos
MELOCALAMUS Sp. -Climbing Bamboos
⚫ The stem is used for making Furniture.
SPINIFEX Sp. -Beach Spinifex
⚫ Commonly Grown in Sea-Shores. It is a good Sand Binder and
Reduce Soil Erosion.
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