A grass question

[Wild-Woman]

Does grass contain an anti-freeze? It seems to take any amount thrown at it...frost, snow, sheets of ice.

[pressld2]

I don't know the answer for certain Jules but I do know one interesting thing about grass and that is that it grows from the base and not from the tip of each blade. This is why it survives repeated cutting either by lawn-mowers or grazing animals. Maybe it's the same with the cold weather. Frost just kills the tips of each blade but it continues to grow from the base and therefore survives.

Dave P.

[Dorts]

The quick answer is 'Yes'.
Many plants have the ability to survive in extreme temperatures. They cope by either tolerating or avoiding freezing. (The formation of ice within a plant cell is lethal and is the most common cause of plants dying in the winter.)

The cells avoid freezing by moving water out of the cell to the outside of the plant reducing the amount of freezable water within the cell. Inside the plant cells, sugars etc. become more concentrated making a natural antifreeze.

There are other ways they do it, but this is one of the common methods plants use.

They know when winter is on its way and adapt to the colder weather, many 'hardy' plants would die-back if there was a cold snap in the middle of summer.
Dorts.

[Wild-Woman]

Great thanks for that Dorts and Dave. It amazes me how a simple blade of grass can protect itself from certain death by such simple but effective measures.
Grass has got to be one of the most tolerant plants on earth. Extremes of cold, submersion for days by flooding, dehydration in the summer and trampling by livestock. It even survives without sunlight for photosynthesis. I can't think of another plant that has such powers of rejuvenation.

[Dorts]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Grass has got to be one of the most tolerant plants on earth. Extremes of cold, submersion for days by flooding, dehydration in the summer and trampling by livestock. It even survives without sunlight for photosynthesis. I can't think of another plant that has such powers of rejuvenation.

You're right, grasses are an amazing group of plants and are found in just about every habitable region on earth, and with around ten thousand different species they certainly know what their doing.

Grasses (Poaceae) were only just evolving at the end-days of the dinosaurs so are a relatavely recent addition to the plant world. Their great explosion in species seem to go hand-in-hand with the evolution of grazing mammals.
Dorts.

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by Dorts

Grasses (Poaceae) were only just evolving at the end-days of the dinosaurs so are a relatavely recent addition to the plant world. Their great explosion in species seem to go hand-in-hand with the evolution of grazing mammals.
Dorts.

Yes that makes sense. I've got the image of mammoths and tundra in my head now.

All cereal crops have evolved from grasses too haven't they? So I'll look at my cornflakes in a different light tomorrow morning!

Thanks for your info Dorts.

[Hedera]

Very interesting question and answers. Grass stops growing when there is less light, so you don't have to cut it in the winter. It rejuvenates after hot dry weather, so there's really no need to waste water by using sprinklers. Also it needs a certain temperature to germinate, so presumably it doesn't waste its seed production. Very sensible plant, in my opinion!

[Brocakat]

Originally Posted by pressld2

I don't know the answer for certain Jules but I do know one interesting thing about grass and that is that it grows from the base and not from the tip of each blade. This is why it survives repeated cutting either by lawn-mowers or grazing animals. Maybe it's the same with the cold weather. Frost just kills the tips of each blade but it continues to grow from the base and therefore survives.

Dave P.

Also - Grass doesn't have a specific season-of-dormancy - i.e. if there was an (ok - bizarre !) stretch of warm weather in January it will grow. And the opposite would also apply - if it turned horribly cold in July - it would cease-to-grow.
This differs from Herbaceous , semi-woody or woody perrenial plants. All of which have established seasons of dormancy.

[KeenTeen17]

Its something to do with the fluid the plant cells store in their vacuoles isn't it? Grass being monocotedylons are quite good at it I'm remembering all this to wow the lecturer

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Yes that makes sense. I've got the image of mammoths and tundra in my head now.

All cereal crops have evolved from grasses too haven't they? So I'll look at my cornflakes in a different light tomorrow morning!

Thanks for your info Dorts.

There are some that think grasses are actually the most successful group of species on the planet because they have managed too get us to grow them everywhere!! When you think about it, Wheat, Maize, Rice and pasture/ fodder/ bedding for animals. Grasses are actually vital to our species.