Instytut Botaniki im. W. Szafera Polskiej Akademii Nauk - W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences
Biological issues in grasses
Edited by Ludwik FREYW. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences
Published, sold and distributed by W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences Lubicz 46, PL-31-512 Kraków, Poland
ISBN: 978-83-89648-61-7192 str., B5, publikacja w języku angielskim
zakup: przejdź do Księgarni IB PAN
PrefaceThe grasses are the family with confusing relationships, with different data sets suggesting different arrangements
The grass family is not the largest in terms of species and genera, coming after Compositae, Leguminosae and Orchidaceae, but its importance is beyond doubt. First of all, we must remember, they provide our cereals and our principal forages. Of the main crops grown in the world, the first ten are all grasses.
Poaceae is a worldwide family that has entered almost every land habitat. They are very well adopted to survival, not only in natural, but also in disturbed environmental conditions. Grasses occupy a greater area of the world's land surface than any other plant family and are found over the land of the globe from the tropics to the polar regions and from sea level to highest vegetation zones in the mountains. Therefore their great morphological diversity might be expected. Surprisingly, grasses have relatively simple structure, and with their linear leaves and smali green flowers, are readily recognized and confusion with other families is unlikely. On the other hand, the distinction of various taxonomical units, from species to subfamilies, is rather complex.
Although there is an immense literature relating to this family, new data are constantly needed to broaden our knowledge concerning Poaceae.
This volume consists of 16 chapters dealing with various issues of grass biology and presents the most recent information on their taxonomy, ecology, phytosociology, karyology, genetics and embryology.
So, editor and authors collectively, hope the book will be of interest to botanists, ecologists and conservationists not only in Poland.