Family cereals: characteristics, signs, fetus, representatives

To date, more than 350 thousand species of plants are known. Of these, the Monocotyledon class accounts for about 60,000 species. In this case, this class includes the two most common on the territory of the habitat and the economic importance of the family:

• Liliaceae.
• Family Cereals or Majestic.

Read more about the Gramineae family.

Taxonomy of Cereals

Place in the system of organic world this family occupies the following:

- The Kingdom of the Plant.

- Sub-kingdoms Multicellular.

- Class Monocotyledon.

- Family Cereals.

All representatives of this family are united in 900 genera. The total number of representatives of about 11,000 species. Plants of the Grain family are found both meadow and cultural, which are of great agricultural importance.

Growth conditions and distribution

Family Cereals occupy very extensive habitats due to their unpretentiousness, moisture and drought resistance (not all species). Therefore, we can say that they cover almost the entire land, with the exception of Antarctica and ice-covered territories.

This immediately makes it clear that the plants of the Zlakov family are very unpretentious to the conditions of growth. So, for example, representatives of meadow grasses (timothy, bluegrass, grass, hedgehog, bonfire and others) quite easily tolerate unfavorable winter conditions and summer heat.

Cultural plants (rye, oats, wheat, rice) are more demanding, however, they are also able to experience rather large amplitude fluctuations in air temperature.

To sunlight are almost equally neutral representatives of all, which includes the family Cereals. Representatives of the meadow, steppe, pampas, savannah - are accustomed to the harsh conditions of the plant, and cultivated species are subject to constant care and treatment from the person, so they also feel comfortable during periods of low illumination.

General characteristics of the family

Family cereals includes both annuals and biennials and most often perennials. Outwardly, they are usually similar, since they have a similar structure of the stem and leaves. The stem of them has obvious distinctive features from the stems of other plants - it is completely empty inside and is a hollow tube, which is called a straw.

A large number of representatives of the family is explained by their importance in the economic plan: some plants go to feed livestock, others for processing and obtaining grain and starch, third to get protein, and fourth for decorative purposes.

Morphological signs

External (morphological) signs of the family Cereals can be described in several places.

1. Stem of straw (except corn and reeds), hollow inside.
2. The internodes on the stem are well pronounced.
3. Some representatives of the stem during life lignified (bamboo).
4. The leaves are simple, sessile, with a pronounced vagina covering the stem.
5. The leaf form is elongated, the venation is parallel.
6. The location of the leaf plates is the next.
7. The root system is of a fibrous type, sometimes underground shoots turn into rhizomes.

All the representatives forming the family Gramineae possess such characteristics.

Flower formula

During the flowering period, plants of this family are very unremarkable, as they are prone to self-pollination or cross-pollination. Therefore, to form huge bright and fragrant flowers they do not make sense. Their flowers are small, pale, completely unattractive. Are collected in inflorescences of different types:

• Complex ear (wheat);
• Cob (corn);
• Whisk (feather grass).

Flowers are the same for all, the formula of the flower of the Zlakov family is as follows: TsH2 + Pl2 + T3 + P1. Where ЦЧ - flower scales, Пл - films, Т - stamens, П - pistil.

The formula of the flower of the Zlakov family gives a clear idea of the nondescriptness of these plants during the flowering period, and hence the use of flowers and leaves and stems for ornamental purposes.

Fruit

After blossoming, a fruit rich in protein and starch is formed. It is the same for all representatives of the Gramineae family. The fruit was called a grain. Indeed, most people, far from biology, know the very term "cereals", and it is associated with grains of agricultural plants called grains.

However, not only the cultivated plants of the family cereals have such a fruit, but also meadow. Grains are rich in vitamins, gluten, protein, starch.

Representatives of Zlakovykh

As already mentioned above, there are about 11,000 plants forming the family Cereals. Their representatives are found among wild and cultivated plant species.

Wild relatives:

• Timothy;
• Hedgehog;
• bonfire;
• feather grass;
• Wheat grass;
• bamboo;
• Greens;
• fescue;
• wild oats;
• Bristles and others.

The majority of representatives of wild-growing Zlakovs are inhabitants of steppes, meadows, forests, savannas.

Cultural plants that form the family Cereals, their fruit is formed under the influence of different environmental conditions. That is why, in order to obtain a grain of decent quality, many of the representatives of the Zlakovs have turned into house cultures, which are followed by proper care. These include:

• Rice;
• rye;
• wheat;
• sugarcane;
• Oats;
• millet;
• barley;
• sorghum;
• Corn and others.

Cultural plants are of great economic importance for the food base of the whole country.

Annuals

One-year-old plants are those that go through the entire life cycle during a single vegetation period. That is, all the basic life processes - growth, flowering, reproduction and death - fit into one season.

Some one annual plant of the Zlakov family is hard to cite as an example. They are actually quite a lot. Let's consider some of the most common and having commercial significance.

1. Kaoliang. A plant from the genus Sorgo, is a cereal crop on a par with rye, wheat and so on.
2. Durr or Dzhugarra. Also the fodder plant, which has the greatest distribution in the southern parts of the Earth. It is used not only as a grain crop, but as hay and silage for animal nutrition.
3. Bonfire. A widespread plant of the Gramineae family, which is often accepted and regarded as a weed. It grows on any soils, unpretentious to heat and moisture, can manage a long time without sunlight. It is used only for animal nutrition, its fruits are not of economic importance.
4. Corn. One of the most common agricultural crops in many countries around the world. From the grain of corn are obtained oil, flour, directly use the grains in a cooked form.
5. Foxtail. Herbaceous plant, which refers to both annual and perennial forms. The main value - the formation of grass cover in meadows (flooded). Goes to feed animals.
6. Panic. The southern agricultural one-year culture, which is grown not only for livestock feed, but also as a food plant for obtaining valuable grain. Thermophilic and photophilous, does not grow on the territory of Russia.
7. Bluegrass. There are several varieties of representatives of this genus, but they are all steppe or meadow grasses, which are of industrial importance as feed for cattle.
8. Millet. Includes many kinds. Of all the variety in Russia there are only 6 species, some of which are used for decorative purposes. The second part is used to obtain nutritious grains for animal feed.

Perennial plants

Most plants in the family are perennial. That is, their life cycle consists of several seasons (vegetation periods). They are able to survive the unfavorable conditions of winter periods without losing their vitality. Many of them form the family Cereals. The characteristics of such plants is very extensive. Consider some of the most important representatives of the economic plan.

1. Wheat. The most widespread agricultural crop in the world's area, which is valued by the nutrients of its grain.
2. Pyrée. Many know it as a malicious weed. However, this is not its only meaning. This plant is a valuable food base for animal nutrition.
3. Fig. A very important agricultural crop, not inferior to wheat in terms of grain value and nutritional value. It is cultivated in the eastern regions of the world.
4. Rye. One of the most popular cereals after wheat and rice. A large number of these plants are grown in Russia. Nutritive value of grain at a high level.
5. Sugarcane. His native land is India, Brazil and Cuba. The main nutritional value of this culture is the extraction of sugar.

Cereal crops

To the agricultural cultivated plants of this family, it is possible, besides the above, to include sorghum. This plant has all the characteristics of the family cereals, and also has a valuable grain. In our country sorghum is not grown, as it is a very thermophilic plant. However, in countries of Africa, Australia, South America this is a very valuable fishing culture.

Grains of sorghum are ground into flour, and parts of the stem and leaves go to feed cattle. In addition, from the leaves and stems produce furniture, weave beautiful interior items.

Barley also can be attributed to important crops. This plant does not require special conditions for growth, so it is easy to cultivate in the territories of many countries. The main value of grain is spent on brewing, obtaining pearl barley and barley cereals, and also goes to animal feed.

Also, barley infusions are of great importance in folk and traditional medicine (remedies for liver and gastrointestinal diseases).

Nutritive value of cereals

Why is it so important and widely applicable the seeds of the representatives forming the family Cereals? Characteristics of the composition of the grain will help to understand this.

First, all grains of cereals contain protein, just the quantity of it varies from person to person. The highest in the content of gluten protein are wheat varieties.

Secondly, grains of cereals contain starch, which means they have sufficient nutritional value and are able to form flour.

Thirdly, a culture like rice contains a lot of vitamins from different groups, which makes it even more useful.

Obviously, a full-fledged use of cereals supplies the body with a set of all the daily essential substances. Therefore, they enjoy such popularity in all countries of the world.