Which grass for where?

Abstract

Grasses comprise a relatively old group of flowering plants found in most of the land environments of the world. They vary from low-growing herbs to tall, woody bamboos, and have developed a variety of mechanisms to survive under a wide range of conditions. This has led to variation in growth habit, soil preferences, drought and flood tolerance etc. which humans can use to their benefit. This paper discusses the development of diversity within the grasses, and describes the characteristics of a number of exotic warm season species that can be used for forage, soil conservation and soil improvement in the subhumid subtropics of Australia.