This is a large family of grasses that are represented by both annuals and perennials. The stems are usually round and hollow except at the nodes. Leaves are borne on two sides of the stem, one from each node. The blades are flat, or rolled with no stalk. The inflorescence is in spikes, racemes or panicles each composed of spikelets borne on a rachis.
Genera found in Manitoba:
Agropyron Agrostis Alopecurus Andropogon Arctagrostis Arctophila Aristida Avena Beckmannia Bouteloua Bromus Buchloe Calamagrostis Calamovilfa Catabrosa Ciliatus Cinna Dactylis Danthonia Deschampsia Digitaria Distichlis Dupontia Echinochloa Elymus Eragrostis Festuca Glyceria Helictotrichon Hierochloe Hordeum Inermis Japonicus Leersa Lolium Milium Muhlenbergia Oryzipsis Panicum Phleum Phragmites Phralaris Poa Polypogon Porteri Puccinellia Pumpellianus Purgans Schedonnardus Schizachne Schizachyrium see Andropogon scoparius Scolochloa Setaria Sorghastrum Spartina Sphenopholis Sporobolus Stipa Trisetum Triticum Zizania