poaceae have cylindrical stem while cyperaceae have triangular stem,bract is present un cyperacea but absent un graminaeae....i have a friend working on some species in this two families...

Cyperaceae have triangular solid stem but poaceae contain hollow cylindric stem

How to report elements of flora?

Check my publication with Dr.K.G.Bhat entitled, "Sedges and Grasses (Dakshina Kannada and Udupi Districts. The book is based on several years of field and laboratory studies. The book contains descriptions of 74 species of Sedges and158 species of grasses. The book is for those interested in the taxonomy of these plants and in particular those interested in the biodiversity of Karnataka State. The book was published in 2001 by Bishen Singh Mahendrapal Singh, Dehradun-248001, India

There are several publications on the topic and our book is one contribution.

Sedges have edges; rushes are round; grasses are hollow right up from the ground”.

First, both kind of plants become to different botany families. The main differential features are:

Sedges become in Cyperaceae and have spicklets with only one leaflets (glumelas), trigonous stems and only has leaves at base and at apex of the plant, on the other hand grasses become to Poacea, has 2 leaflets (lemma and palea )in each spicklet, stems cylindric, called culmes (cañas) and leaves along the stem.

Another important feature, mainly Grasses (Poaceae) has an special fruit called Cariopsis, and Sedges (Cyperaceae) has a most common fruit called Aquenio.

Stevenson, DW & H Loconte, 1995. Cladistic analysis of monocot families. pp 543-578 in: PJ Rudall, PJ Cribb, DF Cutler & CJ Humphries (eds.). Monocotyledons: systematics and evolution. Royal Botanic Garden, Kew.

Dr,Chandralekha ,AIMST University, Malaysia

few differences are below about Grasses, rushes, and sedges

Grasses, sedges, and rushes can be difficult to tell apart. In the horticultural world, we often loosely refer to these three plants as “ornamental grasses,” but they all belong to different plant families. If you look closely, you can distinguish each from the other by structural differences as well as by general differences in their native habitat and distribution.

Grasses and rushes can be either annuals or perennials, while sedges are all perennials. Grass and rush stems are typically round or flat, while sedge stems are typically triangular. The stems of sedges and rushes are generally solid, while those of grasses are hollow. Grass stems also contain swollen nodes or joints; sedges and rushes do not. In addition, grasses often produce both vegetative and floral stems, whereas sedges and rushes only develop floral stems.

Grass stems are typically round or hollow with swollen nodes. Photo/Illustration: Allison Starcher

Sedge stems are generally triangular. Photo/Illustration: Allison Starcher

Rush stems are usually round or flat. Photo/Illustration: Allison Starcher

The leaves on grasses are usually two-ranked, which means they occur on two rows on opposite sides of the stems. Leaves on sedges are usually three-ranked, where they lie in three vertical planes along the stem. The leaves of rushes are mostly basal and spirally arranged, although this varies among the members of the family. The leaf sheaths (the part of the leaf that hugs the stem) of grasses are usually open, while those of sedges and rushes are usually closed.

The flowers of many grasses are relatively showy, while those of sedges and rushes are more inconspicuous. Most grasses have bisexual flowers (both male and female parts in each flower), but some are monoecious (separate male and female flowers on the same plant). Sedges can have flowers that are either bisexual or unisexual (only containing a male or female part in each flower, not both). Flowers of rushes are usually bisexual. Grasses and sedges produce single seeds from each flower, while rushes produce three seeds from each flower.

Grasses belong to the Gramineae (a.k.a. Poaceae) family and are common worldwide, although more species are found in tropical and warm temperate regions than in colder regions. Grasses are most abundant in dry, open habitats. The sedge family (Cyperaceae), which also has worldwide distribution, is more common in colder, wetter areas. Rushes comprise the smallest family, the Juncaceae, which is condo fined mostly to the colder, wetter, more northern parts of the world.

Grasses, sedges, and rushes can all be used to provide unique texture, movement, architecture, color, sound, and year-round interest to almost any landscape. As a general rule of thumb, remember that grasses prefer sunny locations with well-drained soils. Sedges and rushes, on the other hand, are at their best in shady, moist locations.

If you look closely, you can distinguish each from the other by structural differences as well as by general differences in their native habitat and distribution.

Grasses can be either annuals or perennials, while sedges are all perennials. Grass stems are typically round or flat and hollow, while sedge stems are typically triangular and solid. Grass stems also contain swollen nodes or joints; sedges do not. Grasses often produce both vegetative and floral stems, whereas sedges only develop floral stems.

The flowers of many grasses are relatively showy, while those of sedges are inconspicuous. Most grasses have bisexual flowers but some are monoecious. Sedges can have flowers that are either bisexual or unisexual. Grasses belong to the Gramineae family, common worldwide, most abundant in dry, open habitats. The sedge family (Cyperaceae), which also has worldwide distribution, is more common in colder, wetter areas. Grasses prefer sunny locations with well-drained soils whereas Sedges love shady and moist conditions.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SEDGES AND GRASSES

Sedges (genus Carex part of the family Cyperaceae) and

Grasses (family Gramineae) are very closely related and

share similar characteristics such as:

1. Lacking colourful perianths (petals and sepals)

2. Having florets comprised of glumes which are scales that

protect the floret within a spikelet

3. Having linear leaves

4. Both are wind pollinated

5. Unlike most flowers (dicotyledons), grasses and sedges are

monocotyledons – i.e. they have one seed leaf rather than

two

However, there are a number of differences in structure

between sedges and grasses, some of the main ones are

listed below.

Sedges usually have:

􀂾 Triangular (or at least 3 point symmetry) and solid

stems

􀂾 Leaf sheaths that are never split

􀂾 Flowers that are spirally arranged and appearing in 4 or

5 rows

􀂾 Flowers that are often unisexual, the plant bearing

separate male and female inflorescence

􀂾 Flower spikelets with only one glume

Grasses usually have:

• Cylindrical or flattened, and hollow stems

• Leaf sheaths that are split

• Flowers and spikelets that are arranged in two

diametrically opposite rows (distichously arranged)

• Flowers that are bisexual

• Flower spikelets with two glumes

Neill Talbot 2006

Mostly sedges are found near about waterlogged area.They are perennial and stem is triangular shape.

Sedges (genus Carex part of the family Cyperaceae) and

Grasses (family Gramineae) are very closely related and

share similar characteristics such as:

1. Lacking colourful perianths (petals and sepals)

2. Having florets comprised of glumes which are scales that

protect the floret within a spikelet

3. Having linear leaves

4. Both are wind pollinated

5. Unlike most flowers (dicotyledons), grasses and sedges are

monocotyledons – i.e. they have one seed leaf rather than

two

However, there are a number of differences in structure

between sedges and grasses, some of the main ones are

listed below.

Sedges usually have:

¾ Triangular (or at least 3 point symmetry) and solid

stems

¾ Leaf sheaths that are never split

¾ Flowers that are spirally arranged and appearing in 4 or

5 rows

¾ Flowers that are often unisexual, the plant bearing

separate male and female inflorescence

¾ Flower spikelets with only one glume

Grasses usually have:

• Cylindrical or flattened, and hollow stems

• Leaf sheaths that are split

• Flowers and spikelets that are arranged in two

diametrically opposite rows (distichously arranged)

• Flowers that are bisexual

• Flower spikelets with two glumes

Some of the Cyperus species also found in the agriculture land and also in some terrestrial habitats. However in taxonomy, various morphological and anatomical characters used to distinguished them. Nowadays, they are more advance technology, which are using in resolving the taxonomic confusion like, phyto-chemistry, gene bar coding etc.

However, in Sedges/rushes and origin of leaves is another important character.

Morphologically there are two differences. Leaf Sheath of grassess is open, while sedges is closed ,2 stem of grass is round while sedge is triangular.

Grasses: Stem cylindrical with nodes

Sedges: Stem triangular without nodes

Sedges have only one glume, and fruit aquenio.

Grasses have two glumes and fruit cariopsis