Ornamental Grasses
Grasses are the most successful group of plants on earth, for not only are they found in almost
every habitat, but they also dominate large areas of the planet. Highly evolved, they are
adapted to take advantage of any opportunities that arise. By producing large amounts of seed
-in most cases dispersed by the wind -grasses are ready to invade any new environment that
becomes available to them. As pioneers, they are very successful. Their strong roots
penetrate the soil, improving its texture and aiding both water absorption and retention.
These roots further bind the soil, helping to prevent erosion by wind and water, a
characteristic now frequently exploited by landscapers who need to stabilize a newly
prepared slope. Eventually, the humus generated by their decaying leaves improves the
soil's fertility, making it possible for a wider range of plants to establish themselves. Initially,
the only other species able to gain a foothold are those not competing directly with the
dominant grass. For example, trees, whose roots grow beneath those of the grass,
gradually appear. With the evolution of an ecosystem, the grass's durability in difficult
conditions is put to the test. As an equilibrium becomes established, the original grass species
may, in part, be replaced by other grasses better adapted to thrive under the prevailing
circumstances. Their ability to respond quickly to environmental challenges and thereby evolve
into numerous, highly adapted species has led to their omnipresence.
|
|
The presence of cereal grasses in the mountains of middle Asia has been attributed to
man's transition from nomad to farmer, and thereby to the dawn of civilization. Initially,
grasses were simply gathered from the wild, but over time the practice of sowing seed and
harvesting crops evolved. Barley, wheat, oats, millet and rice are all grasses. These are still
the staple foods of much of the population of the world, supplemented in richer countries by
meat which is itself the result of feeding grass or cereals to animals.
Grasses have also served man in other ways. In Egypt, papyrus was used to make paper,
whilst in Japan the soft rush (Juncus effusus) is still used to make traditional matting for
homes. In the tropics, bamboo constitutes a basic building material, used for everything
from water pipes, fences and screens, to reinforcing concrete and as scaffolding for
high-rise office blocks.
Beyond the practical, the aesthetic qualities of grasses have long been appreciated. Grasses,
and in particular bamboos, are essential elements of Chinese and Japanese garden art,
where they are often used in association with water. Flower arrangers have seized upon their
subtle qualities to provide lightness and contrast with more showy blossoms, as
have artists the world over. Conversely, grasses have been under threat from man ever since the dawn of civilization.
In the first place, the vast open grasslands of the world have often been selected as ideal
locations for farms, towns and cities; roads, factories and vast stretches of cereal crops
have irredeemably changed their character. Also, wetlands, with their intricately balanced
ecosystems, are now increasingly under threat; these unique habitats deserve our protection.
Grasses sustain modern society, and at the same time symbolize the natural world
that modern society seems intent on destroying.
|
