Alopecurus - Foxtail Grasses
Alopecurus, foxtail grasses, is a genus in the grass family, Poaceae. Their common trait is a dense, cylindrical inflorescense that resembles a foxtail and hence the name. Around 25 species with distribution around temperate regions in the northern hemisphere belong to the genus and some of those species are used as fodder grasses in agriculture.
Arrhenatherum - Oatgrass
Oatgrass, Arrhenatherum, is a small genus in the grass family, Poaceae, with a distribution around Eurasia and N-Africa. A few species are cultivated as fodder grass and at least one species as an ornamental grass in gardens.
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Arrhenatherum elatius ssp. bulbosum - tuber oatgrass
Calamagrostis - Reedgrass
Reedgrass, Calamagrostis, is a fairly large genus of around 250 species in the grass family, Poaceae. They are tall plants with a long inflorescence with a wide distribution around temperate regions and mountainous areas of the tropics. A number of species are cultivated as ornamental grasses in gardens, among them the most popular ornamental grass variety in the world, 'Karl Foerster'.
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Calamagrostis x acutiflora - feather reed grass
Carex - Sedges
Sedges, Carex, is the largest genus of the sedge family, Cyperaceae, with around 2000 species. Most grow in moist soil, although with some exceptions. The genus has a wide global distribution that includes all continents, with the largest number of species in arctic and temperate regions.
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Carex buchananii - Buchanan's sedge
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Carex morrowii - Japanese sedge
Elymus - Wildrye
Elymus, wild rye, is a fairly large genus with around 150 species in the grass family, Poaceae, with a global distribution. A few species are cultivated as ornamental garden plants, but one species, couch grass (Elymus repens) is a weed no one wants in their garden.
Festuca - Fescues
Fescues, Festuca, is a fairly large genus of around 400 - 500 species in the grass family, Poaceae, with a global distribution. Many species are small and delicate, but the genus also includes very tall species that can reach 2 meters in height. Some fescue varieties are used in seed blends for lawns as they form a very dense, fine turf,
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Festuca glauca - blue fescue
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Festuca vivipara - sheep's fescue
Hakonechloa
Hakonechloa is a genus in the grass family, Poaceae, with only one species native to Japan. It is shade tolerant and many garden varieties are in cultivation.
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Hakonechloa macra - Japanese forest grass
Hordeum - Barleys
The genus Hordeum, barleys, is a genus of annual and perennial species in the grass family, Poaceae, with a distribution in the northern hemisphere. Hordeum vulgare, barley, is an important food grain cultivated around the world, including in Iceland. At least one species is grown as an ornamental garden plant.
Imperata - Satintails
Imperata, satintails, is a genus of around 10 species that are widely distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions. They have silky haired inflorescences and at least one species is a very popular ornamental plant in gardens.
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Imperata cylindrica - cogongrass
Koeleria
Koeleria is a widespread genus in the grass family, Poaceae, distributed through all continents apart from Antarctica. Recently the genus has shrunk considerably as hundreds of species have been moved to other genera leaving less than 50 in the Koeleria genus. Some species are cultivated as ornamental plants. .
Luzula
Luzula is a fairly large genus in the rush family, Juncaceae, with a global distribution with the greatest number of species growing in temperate, arctic and alpine regions. A few small species are native to Iceland.
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Luzula sylvatica - greater wood-rush
Milium - Milletgrass
Milium is a small genus in the grass family, Poaceae, distributed in the northern hemisphere. It was much larger, but a number of species formerly belonging to this genus have been moved to other genera.
Molinia - Moor grasses
Molinia, moor grasses, is a small genus in the grass family, Poaceae, that now only includes two species as other species have been moved to other genera. One species, (M. caerulea) is native to many areas in Eurasia, the other (M. japonica) is native to Japan and Korea.