Grasses (Poaceae Barnhart or Gramineae Jusseu) are monocotyledonous plants, annual
or biennial therophytes or perennials, herbaceous, rarely woody. Usually, grasses have hollow
stems with internodes. The arrangement of the leaves varies: from alternate, to spiral or
opposite. The root system is fasciculate. The inflorescence is a spike. Grasses are the largest
family in the monocotyledonous class. In Flora Europaea (Tutin, 1980) 155 genera have been
described. The Russian researcher Цвелев Н. (1987) classified grasses into Bambusoideae
and Pooideae. According to the current classification developed by the Angiosperm
Phylogeny Group (APG), grasses are found in the following subfamilies: Anomochloöideae,
Pharoideae, Puelioideae, Aristidoideae, Panicoideae, Arundinoideae, Micrairoideae,
Danthonioideae, Chloridoideae, Oryzoideae, Bambusoideae, Pooideae.
In the latest version of The Plant List, the Poaceae family lists 759 genera with 47,428
scientific names of species, of which only 11,554 are accepted names (32,806 are mentioned
as synonyms). Poaceae occur on every continent, including Antarctica. Some species are
appreciated, since ancient times, as cereal, fodder, medicinal and ornamental crops.
In the flora of the Republic of Moldova, there are 1834 specific taxa, of which 147
species are grasses, making up about 8 % of the total number of species, although it is one of
the most representative families (Pînzaru, Sîrbu, 2016). In the Red Book of our country
(2015) 6 species of grasses have been included.
The species, varieties and cultivars of the Poaceae family from the collections of
annual and perennial plants and the experimental sector of the Laboratory of Ornamental
Plants of the NBGI, the germplasm collection and the herbarium specimens served as
materials for the research. Classical methods have been the basic tool in identifying characters
and determining the taxonomic affiliation of species (Negru, 2007; Ciocîrlan, 2009). The
nomenclature is given according to Cerepanov S., but with some current additions promoted
by The Plant List (2021). The geoelements and the spectrum of life forms were analyzed and
specified according to Cristea et al. (2004) and Aeschmann et al. (2004).
The grasses family in the collections and on the experimental field of the Laboratory
of Ornamental Plants is currently represented by 22 genera, 30 species and 26 cultivars. The
representatives of the genus Miscanthus Anderss. are the most numerous – 3 species and 18
cultivars, followed by Stipa L. – 4 species. The other genera are represented by 2-3 species or
even by a single one. Currently, the collection includes 50 intraspecific taxa. Some species
have been present in the collection for over five decades (Briza maxima L., B. media L.,
Festuca glauca Vill., Miscanthus sinensis (Tunb.) Anderss etc.). Others were added to the
collection about four-five years ago (Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeusch, Nassella tenuissima
(Trin.) Barkworth, Lagurus ovatus L. etc.) or two years ago (Koeleria glauca (Scharad.) DC.,
S. zalesskii Wilensky etc.).
Analyzing the distribution of the studied species of grasses, we have found that they
belong to the following geoelements: Eurasian and European, Mediterranean, North
American, Asian, Pontic-Caucasian, Circumpolar. The predominance of Eurasian, Asian and
Mediterranean species is obvious, due to the geographical position of our country. Besides,
the adaptive potential of North American species is very high, although they are represented
by only 3 species (9 %). For example, Chasmanthium latifolium (Michx.) Yates. – a species
less known in our country, blooms, bears fruit, produces viable seeds, tolerates thermal and
humidity oscillations. It prefers sunny spaces, but also tolerates partial shade. We consider
this floristic region a promising one and we will continue to enrich the collections with new
taxa originating from North America. Other species, although vegetate abundantly and go
through the flowering stage, still do not produce viable seeds: Imperata cylindrica (L.)
Raeusch, Nassella tenuissima (Trin.) Barkworth, Roegneria canina (L.) Nevski, Koeleria
glauca (Scharad.) DC., Arrhenatherum elatium (L.) P. Beauv. ex J. Presl. & C.Presl. etc.
Circumpolar and Pontic-Caucasian elements are less represented in the collections of
ornamental plants (3 %).
Most grasses are xerophytes, but can also grow in conditions of high humidity,
behaving as xeromesophytes or even mesophytes. As for the light requirements, they are
usually heliophytes, but some species can also be included in the sciophyte category.
The most numerous taxa are perennial, rhizomiferous hemicryptophytes. Only seven
species of grasses are annual therophytes. The minority of annual taxa is explicable: first of
all, only species with valuable indicators of decorativeness can be found in the collection. But
the most important factor is the dependence of development rates on climatic factors. The
impact of drought, heat, early frost in some years threatens the yield of seeds, but also their
viability. Therefore, in order to maintain and develop a collection of plants, it is appropriate to
collect, store and preserve the germplasm correctly every year.
In conclusion: the Poaceae family is represented in the collections of ornamental
plants by 22 genera that include 30 species and 26 cultivars of high ornamental value. The
plants are resistant to adverse environmental conditions, pathogens and pests.
The predominance of Eurasian, Asian and Mediterranean elements is conditioned by
the geographical position of our country. The researched taxa of grasses are xerophytes, but
can also behave as xeromesophytes or mesophytes. In the collections, the grasses are
represented by two life forms: annual therophytes and perennial hemicryptophytes.
Due to their hardiness and minimal requirements to water, soil and temperature,
ornamental grasses can be used successfully in rockeries, pools, in floral decorations together
with other plants, in solitary groups, borders, containers etc.
References
Cartea Roşie a Republicii Moldova. Î.E.P. Ştiinţa, Ediţia 3-a, Chisinau, 2015. С. 115-
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Negru A. Determinator de plante din flora Republicii Moldova. Tipografia Ed.
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Pînzaru P., Sîrbu T. Flora vasculară din Republica Moldova (Lista speciilor şi
ecologia). Ediţia 2. Tipografia UST. Chişinău. 2016. 261 p.
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1980. P.118-267.
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