Unit 58 (058); Ornamental Grasses and grass like plants

1. Ornamental Grasses

The term ornamental grasses usually includes true grasses (in the Gramineae or

 Poaceae Family), and also plants that look like grasses (blue eyed grass, rushes,

sedges, sweet flag, etc.)

2. Agrostology

Agrostology is the term used for the study of grasses. Much of the work has been on

grasses for forage use. Since Mary Meyer’s book first used the title of Ornamental

Grasses in 1975, there have been a number of books published on ornamental

grasses, and the Library of Congress has created a separate call number for them.

3. Miscanthus

Miscanathus sinensis includes many cultivars, not all of which are hardy in Michigan.

They are distinguished by a keeled or v-shaped leaf with a white stripe down the center.

Cultivar identification is not always easy, and fall flowering or fruiting stalks are needed

for id.

4. Useful Books

 *1. Darke, Rick. 1999. The Color Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses, Sedges,

 Rushes, Restios, Cat-tails, and Selected Bamboos. Timber Press, Inc., 133 S.W. 2nd

 Ave., Ste. 450, Portland OR 97204. 325 pages.

SB/431.7/D363/1999 ($49.95)

 *3. Greenlee, John. 1992. The Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses: How to Grow

 and Use Over 250 Beautiful and Versatile Plants. Rodale Press, 33 east Minor St.,

 Emmaus, PA 18098 186 pages.

folio SB 431.7/.G74/1992 ($29.95)