Needle and thread grass is a member of the grass family (Poaceae). Grasses are herbs, rarely woody, with cylindrical, jointed flowering stems (culms), hollow between the joints, leaves often mostly basal, and tiny flowers aggregated into highly modified clusters. Fruit: grain.
The greatest diversity of species is found in the tropical zone, and the greatest abundance in the temperate regions.
This very important family, consisting of about 525 genera and 5,000 species, provides much of the food used by humans, as well as fodder for livestock.
