Grasslands such as savannah and prairie where grasses are dominant are estimated to constitute 40.5% of the land area of the earth, excluding greenland and antarctica.[6] grasses are also an important part of the vegetation in many other habitats, including wetlands, forests and tundra. The poaceae are the most economically important plant family, providing staple foods from domesticated cereal crops such as maize (corn), wheat, rice, barley, and millet as well as forage, building materials (bamboo, thatch, straw) and fuel (ethanol).

Grasslands such as savannah and prairie where grasses are dominant are estimated to constitute 40.5% of the land area of the earth, excluding greenland and antarctica.[6] grasses are also an important part of the vegetation in many other habitats, including wetlands, forests and tundra. The poaceae are the most economically important plant family, providing staple foods from domesticated cereal crops such as maize (corn), wheat, rice, barley, and millet as well as forage, building materials (bamboo, thatch, straw) and fuel (ethanol).