Plant Family

Poaceae

41 plants in database

The most biomass-productive family in the database. Bamboo, elephant grass, and vetiver generate more chop-and-drop material per square foot than almost anything else. Deep fibrous root systems build soil organic matter rapidly and prevent erosion — vetiver is used worldwide for slope stabilization. Wind-pollinated, so they contribute nothing to insect forage — balance with flowering plants. Running bamboo varieties need root barriers or aggressive management; clumping types are safer for most systems.