write me an essay about grass

Essay on Grass

Students are often asked to write an essay on Grass in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Grass

What is grass.

Grass is a type of plant. It is green and grows from the ground. There are many different types of grass. Some are tall, some are short. Some grasses are used for food, others are used to make lawns look nice. Grass is everywhere around us, in parks, gardens, and fields.

Importance of Grass

Grass is very important. It provides food for many animals like cows and sheep. It also helps to keep the soil in place, preventing it from being washed away by rain. Grass also makes oxygen, which we need to breathe.

Grass and Humans

Humans use grass in many ways. We use it to make lawns and play sports. Some types of grass, like wheat and rice, are grown for food. We also use grass to feed our animals. In some places, people even use grass to make houses!

Grass and the Environment

Grass is good for the environment. It helps to clean the air by taking in carbon dioxide and giving out oxygen. Grass also provides homes for many small animals and insects. Plus, it is a food source for many bigger animals. Grass really is a very useful plant!

250 Words Essay on Grass

Grass is a type of plant that you see almost everywhere. It is green and grows from the ground. It is a part of the plant family called ‘Poaceae’. There are more than 10,000 kinds of grass in the world. Some are very small, and some can grow taller than a person.

Where Does Grass Grow?

Grass can grow in many places. It can grow in your backyard, in parks, and even in the wild. Some types of grass prefer hot places, while others like cold areas. You can also see grass growing in mountains, near the beach, and in the desert. Grass is very tough and can survive in many different environments.

Benefits of Grass

Grass is very important for us and for our planet. It gives us many benefits. For instance, it helps to make our air clean by taking in carbon dioxide and giving out oxygen. This process is called ‘photosynthesis’.

Grass also helps to stop soil from washing away when it rains. The roots of the grass hold the soil together and keep it in place. This is called ‘erosion control’.

Uses of Grass

Grass is not just for looking at or walking on. It has many uses. People use grass to feed animals like cows and sheep. Some grasses are used to make things like paper, baskets, and even houses.

In conclusion, grass is a common but very important plant. It helps our environment, gives us many things, and makes our world a beautiful place. So, next time when you see grass, remember how valuable it is.

500 Words Essay on Grass

Grass is a type of plant that is found all over the world. It is a part of the Poaceae family, which includes over 10,000 different types of grass. Grass is usually green, but it can also be other colors like yellow or brown. It has long, thin leaves that grow from the base of the plant.

Grass can grow in many different places, from fields and parks to gardens and lawns. It can even grow in the wild, like in forests and mountains. Grass needs sunlight, water, and good soil to grow well. It can survive in both hot and cold climates, but it grows best in warm, rainy weather.

The Importance of Grass

Grass is very important for many reasons. First, it helps to cover the soil and prevent it from getting washed away by rain or wind. This is called soil erosion. Grass also helps to keep the air clean by taking in carbon dioxide and giving out oxygen, which we need to breathe.

Grass is also important for animals. Many animals, like cows and sheep, eat grass as their main food. Other animals, like rabbits and mice, use grass to build their homes.

Grass and Sports

Grass is often used in sports. Many sports, like football and cricket, are played on grass fields. The grass makes the field soft and safe for the players. It also makes the game more fun and challenging, as the ball can bounce and roll in different ways on the grass.

How to Take Care of Grass

Taking care of grass is not very hard, but it does need some effort. The grass should be watered regularly, especially in hot weather. It should also be cut from time to time to keep it from growing too long. If the grass gets too long, it can become hard to walk on and it may also hide pests like bugs and snakes.

In conclusion, grass is a very important part of our world. It helps to keep our soil and air clean, provides food and homes for animals, and is used in many sports. Taking care of grass can be a fun and rewarding task. So next time you see a patch of grass, remember all the good things it does for us and our planet!

(Word Count: 400)

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Gratitude Towards Nature
• Essay on Gratitude For Parents
• Essay on Great Pyramid Of Giza

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Natural History Illustration – for books, magazines & packaging

Grass: An introduction

Grasses (Poaceae) are one of my favourite botanical illustration subjects.  I adore drawing and painting them.  I have written a  blog  on my passion for this family of plants before.  However, I wanted to take another look at the way grasses are put together.  I also want to introduce beginners to basic grass anatomy and terminology.  This will help you start to understand these glorious and diverse plants.

(We should also mention the rushes and sedges.  These are also monocots.  For a beginners guide to sedges click here , for a beginners guide to rushes follow this link.)

Drawing a plant is one of the best ways to begin to understand it.  I hope this crash course in grass anatomy will help.

Anatomy of Grass:   Overview of the Plant

Grasses have long leaves or blades, straight thin roots, a rounded (often hollow) stem (or  culm ), and a flowering spike.  Lots of people may not realise that the top region of a grass plant happens to be the plant’s flowers and seeds.  It becomes obvious when you think about a grass like wheat, but other species might fall under the radar.

Bread wheat  Triticum aestivum

The culm of a grass has “knees”, these are known as  nodes .  These nodes might be at a bend in the culm, or just on a straight run of the stem.  The culm tends to be swollen at the nodes.  They may be hairy or smooth, depending on species.  This bending at the nodes is known as  genticulate growth .  Some people confuse grasses with sedges and rushes; remember that grasses are the only one of these groups which can “bend at the knees”.

The space between these nodes is called the  internode .  Its length can help differentiate between species of grass.

Blades  (leaves) of grass tend to be flat and linear.  They are rranged alternatively up the culm, and have parallel and unbranching veins.  Blades can be broad, or needle like.  In some species they roll in on themselves to make bristle-like leaves.  Noting if they are hairy or smooth helps determine the species.

The blades of grass grow up the culm like a tube, then grow outward.  This encircling or tubular covering is known as a  sheath.  Sheaths may cling tight to the culm.  They may be loose and inflated.  This is yet another thing to look out for if you’re trying to i.d. a grass plant.

Overview of the anatomy of a grass (Meadow oat grass  Avenula pratensis )

Grass Ligules

Ligules  are little flaps of membranous tissue that form at the top of the sheath and the base of the leaf blade.  They are very cool as their shape varies a great deal from species to species.  In many cases they’re tiny, so a hand lens might be handy if you’re going to take a closer look.  Some ligules are pointed, some are rough edged, some very thin, some broad and easy to spot.  Some species have no ligule, or have a ligule which is reduced to a ring of hairs.

Sometimes the edges of the leaf blade cling to the culm and surround the ligule (as in the second illustration below); these structures are called  auricles .

Ligule variety in different species of grasses

Inflorescence variety in Grasses

The flowering part of a grass plant is called the  panicle , flowering spike, inflorescence or flower-head (many of these terms also apply to other families of plant, and botanists use them somewhat differently at times, which can be confusing). These flowering heads consists of lots of tiny grass flowers which are called  spikelets .

Diagram showing flowering spike diversity in the Grasses family: Spreeading panicle, flowering spike, Raceme & Compact panicle

If the flowering spike is unbranched, with each individual spikelet attached to the central stem by a stem (or  rachis ) it’s known as a  raceme  (as with Rye grass  Lolium perenne  and Tor grass  Brachypodium pinnatum ).

Racemes: Tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum and Italian Rye grass  Lolium multiflorum

Panicles often refer to grasses whose spikelets are borne at the end of stalks on a branching flowering head.  They show an enormous amount of variety both in individual plants (depending on the age and developmental stage of the plant), within species, and (obviously) between species.

Variety of panicle shape: Yorkshire Fog  Holcus lanatus  showing one panicle still within the sheath, one fully spread at maturity.

Some other grass species with spreading panicles include Cocksfoot  Dactylis glomerata , Common bent  Agrostis capillaris , and Wavy hair grass  Deschampsia flexuosa.

Spreading panicles in Cocksfoot  Dactylis glomerata , Common bent  Agrostis capillaris , and Wavy hair grass  Deschampsia flexuosa

Panicles can also be very compact, and look like one tight structure.  This is particularly true of the Meadow foxtail  Alopecurus pratensis.

Tight panicle shown by Meadow foxtail  Alopecurus pratensis

Some other grasses with tight panicles include Crested Dog’s tail  Cynosurus cristatus , Twitch grass  Alopecurus myosuroide s, and the Foxtails.

Tight panicles shown by Crested Dog’s tail  Cynosurus cristatus , Twitch grass  Alopecurus myosuroides

Grass Spikelets

Each individual spikelet, or flower, is made of distinct parts.  The stalk of each flower is called the  rachis , and flowers are arranged alternately, or in a zig-zag fashion along it.

The base of each spikelet, be it one or several distinct flowers, is held in a pair of  glumes .  These paired glumes have distinct upper and lower glumes, and these structures are important in determining grass species.

The glumes may have bristles or spikes attached to them.  These are called  awns , and can be long or short, bent or straight, twisted (as with many Oat  Avena species), or absent.

Diagram of an individual grass flower or spikelet

Inside the glumes is the floret, which is the stamens and styles of each flower enclosed by two further scales or bracts, the  lemma  and the  palea .  You’re down to hand lens work now, but characteristics to look out for are nerves along the middle (or lack of nerves), awns (or lack of awns), hairiness or not, and colour.

Normally, there are three stamens bearing anthers per spikelet; these often hang out beyond the flower; look closely to find purple ones (Timothy grass and Meadow Foxtail), orange ones (Orange foxtail), white, or cream anthers (many of the Bromes). False oat grass  Arrhenatherum elatius  has bright yellow stamens.

False oat grass  Arrhenatherum elatius  with yellow stamens and Meadow Foxtail  Alopocerus pratensis  with purple ones

Some grasses put out lateral shoots, sometimes at quite a distance from the main plant.  These are known as  tillers , and grow from horizontal  rhizomes , or root-like stems which grow along the ground.  Grasses can rapidly colonise new habitats with this vegetative form of growth.

Tiller and rhizomes, shown on the Rough meadow grass  Poa trivialis

Identifying grasses species: Features to look out for

Habit and habitat

What area is the grass growing in?  Is the ground wet or dry?  Calcareous or acidic?  Disturbed?  What season is it?

What shape and height is the plant?  Is it erect, tufted, or droopy?  Likewise, are the panicles tight or drooping, compact or loose, many branched or not?

Does it have rhizomes and tillers?

How long and how wide are the leaves?  Are they hairy or smooth? Flat or inrolled and bristle-like? What colour are they?

Fold the leaf blade back from the stem and find the ligule.  Look for its size, shape, edge, presence…

How are these arranged on the stem?  How big are they?  What colour? What texture?

Spikelet parts

Compare the size of the 2 glume scales, the number of nerves, awns or not, hairy or not.  Are the palea and lemma  awned or not?  How many nerves do they have?

Spikelets of False oat grass  Arrhenatherum elatius  and Common Oat grass  Avena fatua

If you’re interested in learning more about British and European grasses, there are some really good reference books out there.  The “bible” of grasses is  C.E. Hubbard’s Grasses ;  Colour Identification to the Grasses, Sedges, Rushes and Ferns of the British Isles by Francis Rose ,  Collins Guide to the Grasses, Sedges, Rushes and Ferns of Britain and Northern Europe by Fitter, Fitter and Farrer . You could also take a look at  Collins Flower Guide by Streeter  although it’s rather arrogant of me to suggest this as the grasses plates were all completed by me (with a great deal of help from David Streeter!)

I hope you’ll give the grasses a chance, and end up loving them as much as I do,  their beauty and diversity is mind-boggling.

26 comments

Really beautiful. I love your work

Thank you so much. That’s a really generous comment.

Clear and comprehensive. Thank you

Thanks for the positive feedback. It’s good to know my explanations are clear, and don;t muddy the water even more! Thanks. Yours, Lizzie

Dear Prof. articulation above/or glumes the glumes. You’ll have to forgive me I’m 82 years old and trying to key out grasses. Nothing better to do with my time trees in forbs to be much easier. Sometimes ecology helps. I really stuck on articulation. I understand words that the glumes are located so articulation can be rather confusing: grasshoppers we talk about articulation, with clearness of speech we talk about articulation. I’m trying to understand articulation and glasses: i.e. this a joint like a line or is it an action when the seeds fall on the ground would appreciate your response. Gene Clement.

Thanks for your comment, and for calling me a Prof – I wish! Oh those grasses are a nightmare! I’m not surprised you’re confused! It took me absolutely AGES to figure out my lemmas from my glumes, let alone the joys of articulation! I’m still a little hazy on grass flowers now. The articulation of grasses is like the grasshopper meaning; it’s a joint or line of weakness. One definition is: “articulate meaning jointed; usually fracturing easily at the nodes or point of articulation into segments”. SO it applies to the structure rather than to a process. You’re also right that the trees and herbs are less painful, although I properly love the grasses. I found the best way to learn species was to spend a day in a field with a botatnist who knew their species, although in these merry days of Covid19 such a thing seems little more than a pipe dream…

Another resource you could use, if it appeals, is twitter. There are very friendly nests of botanists there who would readily help you i.d. a grass specimen. Then, once you know for sure what you’ve got, you can work backwards with the keys. I always start out with keys by going from definite knowledge backwards. Eventually the terms make enough sense for you to use keys in the way they’re intended!

Good luck, and I love that you’ve discovered a passion for grasses, we’re never too old to learn new stuff.

All the best, stay well, and good luck with those articulated glumes!

Lizzie, your work is impeccable. I absolutely love botanical illustration, and yours are some of the finest I have had the pleasure to look at. This entry is extremely well thought out, explained, and illustrated. Thank you for gracing us with your work!

Thank you so much! What a generous and flattering comment, its lovely. Its so good to get positive feedback on work, so thank you!

Great resource, been taking some time to better understand, grasses, sedges and rushes while on lockdown. I have also shared your blog with my Forest School learners as a useful resource. Do you have a similar write up on umbellifers? Thank you.

So glad they were useful! I love your query re umbellifers. In fact, I’m so wobbly about my umbellifers that I’d booked myself on a one-day course with the Field Studies Council to sort them out, and would inevitably have done a blog. The course will probably happen in 2021, so once I’ve learned a bit I will definitely be here spouting and sharing what I’ve been told! Thanks for the comment and the suggestion, you’re clearly on the same wave length as me! Yours, lizzie

Lovely site, and a wealth of knowledge here. I am trying to get a quick primer in grasses, as I posted a photo on iSpot this week and the general consensus is a bit split. It is likely to be Hungarian Brome – but I promised to go back and take some more shots now I know just what to concentrate on. Also I spent most of my life in graphic design and I admire your beautiful watercolour drawings – my battered and dog-eared Marjorie Blamey handbook was my introduction to British wildflowers!

Lovely to hear from you! Ah yes, the joys of Bromes. Yeah, if you take a close look at those spikelets and ligules, and where hair does or does not grow… It’s funny, I’m obsessed by grasses but am still really poor at identifying them in the field. I was due to take yet another grasses i.d. course with the Field Studies Council before lockdown. Next year, maybe. Thanks for being nice about my work, much appreciated. Ah yes, Marjorie Blamey. My bible is the pen and ink line drawings of Stella Ross Craig, look them up if you want to see how atonal black and white images can totally capture the nature of a plant. Such a clever woman.

Enjoy your grasses and your Hungarian Brome, and good luck with a definitive id. The goodly folks on twitter are SOOO helpful with identifications; you might check in with @BSBIbotany @botanicalmartin and @drmgoeswild who has a particular soft spot for grasses…

Hi Lizzie, A book I would highly recommend for studying the grasses is “Agnes Chase’s First Book of Grasses.” This is a must have for understanding grasses and the somwhat complex terminology describing their anatomy. I have both a first edition and the more easily acquired 4th edition. Thanks for your fine work/color drawings (watercolors?). Brad Reiser

Hi Brad That’s a great tip, I shall go and invest in one immediately. Good books on grasses are hard to come by, thanks for the recommendation, and for your generous comments. X lizzie

Thank you for sharing this article. I have struggled for years with the terminology. My husband, a range management specialist, will state “look at this raceme” and I would just smile and say “yes honey” not having a clue what he is really talking about.

This is so very helpful! Thank you for putting in short simple narrative that is understandable.

Hi Catherine That warms the cockles, I do try to untangle all the terminology as much for myself as for others. So Im relieved it makes sense. How funny, I can just picture the patient smile as you wait for him to stop going on about glumes and ligules. Hopefully now you can come right back at him, “yes, but honey why hasn’t it got angled awns?” or “I just love the way this species has an inflated sheath, don’t you?” Just be sure you dont use the grasses terminology on sedges or rushes (my head starts spinning…) or he’ll smell a rat! It does seem like a whole lot of learning to be able to talk about these plants. I still havent sorted out the mosses, oh gosh, no.

Thanks for your message! Yours, Lizzie

I’m a student studying agriculture and this has really helped to explain everything and simplify it. I am trying to do assignments and I have an exam coming up so this will really come in very handy. Thanks so much for posting this.

Regards, Caoimhe

Hi Caoimhe, what a lovely comment. SO glad it’s useful, and good luck with your exams!

Thanks for sharing this beautiful guide, as horticulture student I have found it really practical. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!! 🙂

The illustrations are astonishing

My absolute pleasure, and thank you so much for your kind comments. When I first had to illustrate grasses, I was totally confused, so that’s lovely to know that this helps others who’ve had that same moment of doubt!

Dear Lizzie your work on grasses is beautiful! I’ve been working with a poet pal Valerie Gillies on a poetry and photography project called ‘When the grass dances’. The grasses carried us through the last years! Offering their story of resilience and renewal. Your work on their structure is so well laid out. Thank you!

What a fascinating project! And they ARE extraordinary plants, I entirely agree. I just went on yet another course on grasses at the weekend (I cant get enough of them) so expect more blogs on them in the next few months! SO glad you share my passion, and thanks for the kind words about my work.

Thank you very much for this clear explanation of grasses. I am trying to identify native grasses on our bush property in Australia & have been struggling to understand the botanical terms used in references. Your guide is very helpful. Thank you.

Delighted to hear my blog is useful. Thankyou!

Hi Lizzie. Have you any tips on the technique of dissecting grass flowers. It’s just the start of the grass season in the UK and I am looking at Sweet Vernal Grass. Apparently it has two infertile florets and one fertile in each spike but I am finding it really difficult to separate the spike to see these details. Thanks. Paul

Not easy, is it? Especially when some books and sources say one thing, and others may not agree. For dissecting grass florets, a dissecting microscope is a big help. I also use tiny tailor’s scissors, a needle to separate the florets from one another, and a razor blade or scalpel to cut individual florets off the main inflorescence. A trick I use sometimes that might be of use is to do your dissecting on a bit of masking tape. You can mostly still move the individual florets around (if you don’t push down too hard) and they don’t flip about or disappear when you go in to see the detail. Sweet vernal grass is so lovely, the way is smells so strongly of hay. But in truth I’ve not seen the fertile vs unfertile flowers myself. They are probably there, but sometimes I wonder if these species diagnostics are invariably present? Or maybe wait til a touch later in the season when the individual flowers are more mature and possibly less scrunched up together? Not much help, Im sorry. Good luck with it, hope you find the infertile vs fertile ones.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• Commissioning
• Job Showcase
• Original Illustrations for sale
• Greetings cards
• Ordering Prints
• The Process of Illustration
• Teaching Workshops
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Privacy Policy

Lizzie Harper

ENCYCLOPEDIC ENTRY

Grassland biome.

The grassland biome is made up of large open areas of grasses. They are maintained by grazing animals and frequent fires. Types of grasslands include savannas and temperate grasslands.

Biology, Ecology, Geography, Physical Geography

Rothschild's Giraffes

There are a ridiculous number of giraffes in this photograph. They are standing in a grassland nibbling on trees. Words cannot describe how awesome this is.

Joel Sartore

Grassland biomes consist of large open areas of grass. Trees can be present, but they are infrequent. The animals found in grasslands range from African elephants ( Loxodonta africana ) to various species of prairie dogs ( Cynomys spp. ).

Low rainfall, wildland fires, and grazing by animals are three factors that maintain grasslands . In grassland regions, the climate is ideal for the growth of grasses only. The low precipitation rates are enough to nourish grasses but not enough for a forest of trees. Frequent fires also play a role in maintaining grassland ecosystems. Grasses are well adapted to grow back after a fire. Grassland animals are also prepared for fires, fleeing or burrowing underground to wait out the flames. Large animals, such as African elephants, can also trample the ground and discourage the growth of trees.

The two distinct types of grasslands are savannas and temperate grasslands . These two types of grasslands may look similar, but they differ in some significant ways. For example, elephants are found in African savannas but not in the temperate grasslands of the United States. In contrast, burrowing animals, such as prairie dogs, are commonly found in temperate grasslands . Temperate grasslands also are known to have richer soils than savannas .

Savannas are present in areas that have a warm climate with a rainy season and a dry season. Most of the precipitation falls during just a few months of the year. This results in a long dry season that inhibits the growth of trees. Savannas and their abundant wildlife are famous in Africa, but savannas can also be found in South America, Asia, and Australia.

Temperate grasslands, on the other hand, are known for their rich soil that yields abundant growth of grasses. Temperate grasslands are found in places such as North America and Eastern Europe.

Humans have had a dramatic impact on the grassland biome . Because temperate grasslands have rich soil, most of the grasslands in the United States have been converted into fields for crops or grazing land for cattle. The loss of grasslands due to agriculture has affected several species, including monarch butterflies ( Danaus plexippus) . During their long migration to Mexico, the butterflies depend on the grasslands ’ wildflowers for food. Consequently, monarch butterfly populations have begun disappearing as more and more grasslands have been converted into farmland.

In the African savannas , illegal hunting has resulted in the loss of many large animals, including elephants. The elephants protect the grasses of the savanna by crushing trees and shrubs. Without large animals around to stomp down the trees, they can more readily overtake the grasses, causing savannas to turn into forests. The resulting loss of the grasses would mean less food for grazing animals such as Grevy’s zebras ( Equus grevy ).

Media Credits

The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited.

Production Managers

Program specialists, last updated.

October 31, 2023

User Permissions

For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. They will best know the preferred format. When you reach out to them, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource.

If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media.

Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service .

Interactives

Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. You cannot download interactives.

Related Resources

Open Access is an initiative that aims to make scientific research freely available to all. To date our community has made over 100 million downloads. It’s based on principles of collaboration, unobstructed discovery, and, most importantly, scientific progression. As PhD students, we found it difficult to access the research we needed, so we decided to create a new Open Access publisher that levels the playing field for scientists across the world. How? By making research easy to access, and puts the academic needs of the researchers before the business interests of publishers.

We are a community of more than 103,000 authors and editors from 3,291 institutions spanning 160 countries, including Nobel Prize winners and some of the world’s most-cited researchers. Publishing on IntechOpen allows authors to earn citations and find new collaborators, meaning more people see your work not only from your own field of study, but from other related fields too.

Brief introduction to this section that descibes Open Access especially from an IntechOpen perspective

Want to get in touch? Contact our London head office or media team here

Our team is growing all the time, so we’re always on the lookout for smart people who want to help us reshape the world of scientific publishing.

Home > Books > Grasses - Benefits, Diversities and Functional Roles

Introductory Chapter: Overview on Grass Topic

Published: 06 September 2017

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.70407

Cite this chapter

There are two ways to cite this chapter:

From the Edited Volume

Grasses - Benefits, Diversities and Functional Roles

Edited by Amjad Almusaed and Sammera Mohamed Salih Al-Samaraee

To purchase hard copies of this book, please contact the representative in India: CBS Publishers & Distributors Pvt. Ltd. www.cbspd.com | [email protected]

Chapter metrics overview

1,473 Chapter Downloads

Impact of this chapter

Total Chapter Downloads on intechopen.com

Total Chapter Views on intechopen.com

Author Information

Amjad almusaed *.

• Environmental Design, University of Basra, Basra, Iraq

*Address all correspondence to: [email protected]

1. Introduction

An essential element to highlight architectural objects

A significant decorative value (by shape or color)

For sports grounds

The grass family (Poaceae) is a plant family in the grassland. With about 11,000 species in more than 650 types, it is one of the largest families of the flower plants. It is widespread in all the world's climate zones. Many species of grasses belong to the oldest useful plants and have been of vital importance to human beings since the dawn of the day [ 2 ]. All cereals, such as wheat, rye, barley, oats, millet, maize, and rice, are included in this plant group. Landscape forms such as meadows, exuberances, steppes, and savannas characterize vast areas of the world’s landscapes. Although the different species in the grass family in many ways resemble each other, there is a great variety. This kind of grasses is no wonder because they are among the plant groups that can easily adapt. They grow in polar regions and deserts, in tropical rainforests, and on windy slopes of mountains. Whole vegetation areas, such as steppe, llanos, prairie, and savannah, are dominated by grass. Most grasses also have the advantage that the stem if bowed by the wind or threaded can rise by firing faster on the side facing the ground. Grasses occur throughout the world and in almost all vegetation types. There are single or perennial plants with hollow stems (straw), which are however compact and often swollen by the leaf feathers (knees). The leaves are more or less ribbon shaped and form a staggered leaf sheath in the lower part. A piggy bank is made up of toroidal, dandelion-shaped leaves (after) and contains one or more flower without a true blister. In many grassy areas, natural fires play a crucial role. Lightning ignites, at the end of the growth period, the dead plant material. The inorganic nutrients in the ash promote the new growth of plants as fertilizers. Also, tree growth is destroyed. The fires thus contribute to keeping the grassland open. Grazing areas inhabit and nurture an ancient and diverse animal world of insects (termites and ants), spiders, birds, small mammals, and not least grazing flocks of large mammals as on the African savannas. Some grasses are sparsely built and are only a few centimeters broad. One- and two-year species usually have single or few shoots in loose leaves with soft leaves. In these grasses, all or most stems bear inflorescences. In most cases, the long-lived species form firmer straw and longer leaves and form a larger or smaller number of nonflowering shoots in addition to flowering shoots. They grow in loose or dense gardens or lawns. The recent growth form occurs when the plants propagate with more or less long overground, creeping, greenish, or reddish stalks, called pricks or using subterranean, white, or brown rhizomes. In addition to the color, the two types also distinguish between the knees on the runners with roots: stools have full leaves on each knee, whereas rhizomes in these places have only small, thin skeletal low leaves. In this way, due to the closely compacted shoots, the typical tube-shaped growth form of many kinds of grass occurs. Most grasses have wood nuts. They do not form a principal or pedestal. At the root of the stem and the knees of the outriggers, many roots are formed, each of which can develop leaflets of first and second order. In this way, root systems with a considerable size can occur. Thus, a single plant of Red Swing may spread 250 m in diameter. The grass is the largest family of flowering plants, and of all vegetative families, it is the most appreciated to human beings. It has an extensive range of uses. However, it is only about relatively few genera that are important as useful plants for humans. Only about 15 genera (it is barely 2%, although bamboo genera are not included) play a bigger role. It is a generic term for Gramineae monocotyledonous green plants where it is found on the plain, hill, and mountain. At present, about 4500 species of the Gramineae, or true grasses, have been classified. Approximately 1500 of these species are believed to be native to North America. The grasses take on more than a fifth of the earth's plant cover; it is composed of plants of small height and produces seeds and is used as a diet for ruminant animals. Varieties of grasses that grow very often and of low heights are used, under the name of law, to cover the green spaces. Grasses carpet the baby’s playpen, blanket the old man’s grave, and cover somewhere near a fourth of all the other land on the earth. The known species range in size from the miniature “three lawns,” smaller than a shirt pin, to the giant bamboo that towers above medium night forest trees. The progress of the grasses is spotlighting the ancient strongholds of the Gramineae. These include the ancient pastures of Western Europe, the principal river valleys of Eastern Europe, the vast steppes of the Russia, the hard used herd lands of Manchuria and the Mongols, in South African veldt, the deep-soiled pampas of Argentina, the campus of Brazil, the llanos of the Orinoco Basin, and the great savannas of Australia and New Zealand. However, the North American Great Plains, for the most part, west of longitude 98° W, keeps their place as the most productive of all the high grasslands of the earth. Currently, grasses are reappearing and otherwise gaining ground in the tropics, the original homeland of grasses where the greatest number of species in any area is still to be found. Grasses are pushing farther and farther up and down toward the poles, invading tundra, following in the wake of sledge runners and the first ruts made by the wheels of planes, tractors, or the wide-ranging jeep. Grasses keep venturing farther into deserts, higher up mountainsides, and closer to ocean edges, but now, as perhaps through hundreds of centuries, the grasses show their fastest increase in the temperate zones. Grasslands from the largest natural grassy areas on earth in climate zones are not suitable for forests. Also, they create cultural landscapes, especially in Central Europe. They have arisen in a long process after the Ice Age, where forests have been transformed into meadows and pastures.

2. Grasses upon human history

Grasses have lived on the earth a great deal longer than people have. In this way, man has been the fortunate member of the partnership. Through apparently hundreds of centuries, man followed the grasses to live on the grazing animals and birds, which they sustained. Appropriately, the earth's first ages of grasses came even earlier than the first age of the grazing animal. Indeed, the word "graze" was derived from "grass." Supposedly, during Miocene times, believed to have begun some 30 million years ago, the forebears of grass came out of tropical forests and swamplands onto the cooler and drier lands. The succeeding Pliocene epoch, believed to have ended a million or so years ago, was distinctively an age of grasses and grazers. During its centuries, both grasses and trees tended to lose their gigantism, while animal life acquired some part of the genetic bigness, which vegetation was losing. Mastodons, giant rhinoceroses, and big horses grazed on the far-spread grasslands of the continents. After the Pliocene, the Ice Age began. Gigantic mountains of ice locked in so much of the earth's water that the Bering Strait, the Isthmus of Panama, and other land links previously submerged were changed into open bridges, which permitted ready intercontinental migrations of grazing animals. The masses of ice that advanced and retreated four times in our present time are described as a late phase of the fourth recession. However, ice masses or no, animal life survived and increased, where and as grasses permitted. Buffaloes, elk, antelope, and deer became the main American grazers on the grassy fringes of the ice fields. Africa and lower Asia stayed free of the ice and became refuges for some of the bigger grazing animals. Supposedly after the last great ice sheets at least partially withdrew, Asians came across the Bering Strait and poured down and across what was by then one of the biggest areas of grass on earth, spreading intermittently from what is now upper Canada to the plains and hills of Patagonia. For many centuries, those earlier Americans sought, slaughtered, and lived with animals, which lived on the grasses. Eventually in the Western Hemisphere, as apparently, he had learned even earlier in the Eastern Hemisphere, man began adapting what he deemed the best of the grazing animals to herd livestock. The North United States of America does not lead the world in either the selective breeding of grasses or the production of nutrients per acre of grasses harvested. In both attainments, other countries certainly France, the British Isles, Australia, New Zealand, and quite probably the Netherlands are still ahead of us. Soviet Russia is claiming the world leader in the genetic development of perennial grain grasses, including wheat and rye, that is, Russian plant geneticists are seeking to turn into biennials wheat, rye, and perhaps other annual grains, and eventually to make them (they hope) perennials. However, in the total value of grass harvests, the United States not only leads but also overwhelms.

3. Grass functions and roles

The grasses are not only the most common of the flowering plant families but also the most important, where some of it represent the basis of our food. These include the four bowls of cereal (wheat, barley, rye, and oats), also corn, rice, millet, etc., and grass seeds for bread, porridge, beer, etc. Grass family has been the main source of food for people in almost all cultures since the early start of the drugstore and also an important source as cattle fodder. Grass has many functions, starting from the medical and therapeutic function to leisurely utility. In the following subdivisions, some of the essential functions of grasses will be represented.

3.1. Therapeutic function

Grasses are one of the oldest therapeutic elements and are found in all continents and cultures where plant medicine also covers parts of pharmacology, pharmaceutics, and toxicology. The herbal medicine is partly based on traditional medicine. Experienced values, traditional knowledge, and traditions play a major role. In plant medicine, only whole plants or parts of plants (flowers, leaves, seeds, bark, and roots) are used, but no isolated individual substances are used. The active components of medicinal plants are subject to natural fluctuations caused by the climate, location, and harvesting time of the plant.

3.2. Protecting and improving the environmental function

The hydrological function is the first function, which is provided by all types of green spaces, being expressed by the greater or lesser capacity of precipitation water to be retained, and to the release of either the atmosphere in the form of vapors or the soil through its percolation phenomenon toward the horizons.

The ground protection is an important function that is noticeable in areas lacking vegetation or grasses where the erosion processes are visible. Through the system of rooting, which is a biological soil armature, by the phenomenon of attenuation of the mechanical effect of raindrops, exerted by the foliage of the grasses, which is often arranged in several layers, the substrate constituting the support of the vegetation presents a mechanical, physical, and chemical stability, greatly enchancing the prevention of soil erosion and landslides [ 3 ].

The climate protection is the main function of green elements, which is exercised by all green spaces under different aspects:

Moderation of the amplitudes and thermal variations

Decreasing the wind speed

Improving the humidity of the air

Improving the intensity of solar radiation

The modeling of diurnal and seasonal variations of vegetation is exercised by the shading effect, through the evapotranspiration processes, by the specific albedo, or by the reduction of the wind cooling effect. The direct effect of grasses is evident in our life where a 1.5 m 2 of uncut grass produces enough oxygen per year to supply one person with his or her yearly oxygen intake requirement [ 2 ]. Woody vegetation, through its microclimate, moderates excessive temperatures, so temperatures in hot summer days are lower in the masses of trees, protection curtains, stripes planted alongside the streets, or near them, and in winter, temperatures are higher due to the air movement diminishing the effect. For example, if the air temperature at the surface of the concrete is 30°C, under the same conditions, the surface temperature of the asphalt will be 45°C, and the air temperature at the grass level will be between 22 and 24°C.

3.3. Antipollution function (healthy)

Reducing the physical pollution of the atmosphere

Reducing the chemical contamination of the air

Reducing noise effectually

The function of the reduction of environmental pollution can be achieved precisely by the ability of the vegetation to retain, fix, and sediment particles suspended in the atmosphere, fine powders, or smoke. Through the foliage and crown texture of different woody species or the texture of the various grassy vegetation areas, by decreasing the air velocity, the vegetation retains substantial amounts of particles, which are subsequently entrained by the water from the precipitations at the ground level [ 4 ]. The physical purification capacity depends on the species, the leaf size, the porosity, the life of the leaves, and so on. For example, an ingenious surface retains 3–6 times more dust and particles. Solids than a mud surface and a medium-sized tree retain 10 times more impurities than the surface of its crown projection covered with lawn. One hectare of oak forest can hold 68 tons of solid particles and dust, for spruce approx. 30 t/ha, silvery pine approx. 35 t/ha, and lime lump approx. 42 t/ha. The reduction of chemical pollution is achieved by green spaces primarily by CO 2 consumption and O 2 produced by the actual fixing of toxic gases resulting from various activities: fuel combustion, chemical industry, metallurgy, oil processing, mineral processing, car, air, or other current activities of the population [ 5 ]. Green spaces behave like true biological filters that improve the air qualities, due to the ability to fix through the metabolism of various harmful gases in the atmosphere. Phonic pollution occurs because of various daily activities within or outside localities, activities that generate noise with varying intensities and frequencies. Noises can be mitigated by the dense foliage of grasses, arranged in the form of lanes along the roadways or highways passing through inhabited areas. In cities, street grasses and plantations and rare plantations between buildings and small squares reduce very little noise (only 4–5 decibels) with an unseasonable effect. To obtain the maximum sound effect, they usually combine different relief patterns or different panels with sound effects, with plantations arranged in some devices to absorb and dissipate sound waves [ 6 ].

3.4. Recreational function

Selection of particular grasses for landscape areas plays a major role in the activation of recreation function throughout the walking and visiting of some picturesque regions, historic gardens. Recreation function is an organic and spiritual necessity for human beings to escape from the artificial environment of the cities [ 7 ]. Recreation can be defined as an activity practiced by a man in his right, in the spheres of culture, art, sports, entertainment, tourism, being an element compensating working conditions, physical, intellectual, or psychological demands to which the person in daily life is subjected in general. The higher these requirements, the greater the need for man to escape from the daily, most of the destinations, in this sense being vegetation areas, urban, or extra-urban green spaces.

Relaxation, which removes psychic and nerve trauma caused by tensions or eliminates the temporary fatigue resulting from the daily activity program

Entertainment or amusement, which removes boredom or the effect of daily automatisms

The escape through which the individual comes out of his or her usual environment

Developing personality by which the individual releases for a period the daily automatisms, having creative and innovative behavior and activities

Most of the environments in which contemporary man lives are strong anthropic and often lacking in the conditions of nature. Recreation in nature is increasingly adopted and preferred by the modern person in the urban environment due to the heavily artificial environment in which he operates, but also because of the physical and mental pressure he is subjected to in the various daily situations.

3.5. The function of efficacy

In an exceptional situation, certain grasses can be selected to protect the specific objectives, hydrological resources, and different categories of soil. Thus, some green open space areas have to be provided with special grasses to reduce the spread of harmful substances, open water basins (water accumulations), and drinking water supply installations with a sanitary curtain.

In some other cases, it is necessary to provide around roads regions with special plants that ensure the consolidation of the land or the traffic security (vegetal barriers separating the traffic directions, barriers against the wind, and parasitic effect) [ 8 ] by implementing decommissioning projects for industrial and rendering enterprises in the use of the respective territories, by greening the spaces and by landscaping designed to mitigate the visual impact of the installations and the integration of certain specific grasses uses.

• 1. Jörg Mildenberger X. Anton Trutmann's Arzneibuch. Würzburg: Teil II; 1997
• 2. Almusaed A. Biophilic and Bioclimatic Architecture. Analytical Therapy for the Next Generation of Passive Sustainable Architecture. London, Dordrecht, Heidelberg, New York: Springer; 2010. p. 67, 238, 178
• 3. Almusaed A, Almsaad A. Building materials in eco-energy houses from Iraq and Iran. Case Studies in Construction Materials. Elsevier; 2015
• 4. Almssad A, Almusaed A. Environmental reply to vernacular habitat conformation from vast areas of Scandinavia. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. August 2015;48:825-834
• 5. Almusaed A, Almsaad A. Urban biophilic theories upon reconstructions process for Basrah City in Iraq. In: Passive and low energy architecture Conference, PLEA 2014; Ahmadabad, India. 2014
• 6. Almusaed A, Almsaad A. Biophilic architecture, the concept of healthy sustainable architecture. In: The 23th Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture, PLEA 2006; Geneva, Switzerland. September 2006
• 7. Al-samaraee SMS. Effect of soil texture and salinity of irrigation water for growth and active ingredients of the henna plant Lawsonia inermis . Thi-Qar University Journal for Agricultural Researches. ISSN: 22225005. 2012;1:2222-5005
• 8. Al-samaraee S, Hassan A, Alshwally A. Effect of spraying yeast suspension, and time of cutting on growth and content of henna plant from Tannins and Lawsone pigment Lawsonia. Journal of Basrah Researches (Sciences). ISSN: 18172695. 2011;37(5B):104-115

© 2017 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Continue reading from the same book

Edited by Amjad Almusaed

By Rafael Goulart Machado

1410 downloads

By Yusuf Bozkurt, İlker Yavas, Aziz Gül, Beytullah A...

2455 downloads

By Maghchiche Abdelhak

1740 downloads

Earthly Whispers: Describing Grass in Creative Writing

My name is Debbie, and I am passionate about developing a love for the written word and planting a seed that will grow into a powerful voice that can inspire many.

Earthly Whispers: Describing the Delicate Blades of Grass in Creative Writing

The textures:, the symphony of grass: capturing the gentle rustling and whistling sounds in words, a dance in the wind: depicting the graceful movement and swaying of grass, the aroma of nature: describing the earthy, fresh fragrance of verdant grass, enhancing your writing: tips and techniques for evocative grass descriptions, exploring techniques for evocative grass descriptions, bringing the outdoors to life: invigorating your prose with lively grass imagery, frequently asked questions, concluding remarks.

When it comes to creative writing, the world of nature serves as a boundless source of inspiration. Among the gentlest wonders that Earth has to offer are the delicate blades of grass that carpet our landscapes, silently adding a touch of tranquility to our lives. Describing the mesmerizing allure of these tiny plants can wonderfully enhance your writing, connecting readers to the beauty that lies beneath their feet. Allow your words to depict the lushness of grass, its hidden secrets waiting to be unveiled.

Start by imagining a sea of emerald green perfectly swaying in the wind, whispering sweet stories only decipherable by the curious observer. Picture the slender blades, sprouting effortlessly, inching their way upward towards the sun, each one a testament to resilience and tenacity. To capture its essence, consider evoking emotions that arise from its presence; it symbolizes renewal, refreshment, and the cycle of life. Employ vivid imagery to paint a vivid mental picture in the minds of your readers, allowing them to feel the gentle touch as they walk barefoot through a meadow, blades tickling the soles of their feet.

Unveiling the Subtle Beauty: Exploring the Intricate Shades and Textures of Grass

Grass, a seemingly ordinary part of our surroundings, often goes unnoticed and underappreciated. However, upon closer examination, one can unveil the hidden beauty that lies within this fascinating plant kingdom. With its diverse shades and textures, grass has so much more to offer than meets the eye.

Step into the enchanting world of grass and prepare to be mesmerized by its intricate shades. From vibrant emerald greens to subtle hints of olive, grass showcases a stunning palette of colors that evolve throughout the seasons. Whether it’s the fresh spring grass glistening with dewdrops or the rich, deep green of summer lawns, each hue has a unique story to tell as nature gracefully unfolds. This diverse array of colors brings harmony and life to our surroundings, creating a sense of tranquility and serenity.

Beyond its breathtaking shades, grass offers a world of intricate textures that effortlessly captivate our senses. Explore the velvety softness of a well-manicured lawn, where each blade of grass stands tall and equally pristine. Run your fingers over the fine, lush strands, delighting in their gentle caress against your skin.

But grass doesn’t limit itself to a single texture. Discover the playful variety as you encounter patches of rough and coarse grasses, adding a dynamic contrast to the landscape. Picture yourself walking barefoot on a dew-kissed meadow, feeling the ticklish sensation of sprawling, long blades gently brushing against your toes. The textures of grass serve as nature’s intricate tapestry, inviting us to connect with the Earth on a deeper level.

Just imagine strolling through a vast, green meadow, a gentle breeze brushing against your skin, and the orchestra of sounds that unveils as you step onto the lush carpet of grass. The symphony of this natural wonder is often overshadowed by the grandeur of other natural elements, but if one truly pays attention, the delicate rustling and whistling of grass blades can transport us to a tranquil and serene world. Let’s dive into the captivating nuances of this verdant orchestra and attempt to capture its essence through the artful arrangement of words.

The rustling sound of grass, like the soft whispers of secrets between friends, carries an air of delicate mystery. It is a symphony created by countless individual grass blades as they sway in the wind, effortlessly harmonizing their movements. The varying lengths, thicknesses, and textures of these blades contribute to the richness of the auditory experience. As each blade collides, brushing against its neighboring companions, a gentle chorus rises. It is a symphony that oscillates between a gentle hush and a playful whisper, reminiscent of the passage of time or even the circadian rhythm of nature herself.

• Subtle whistles: Amidst the rustles, the grass occasionally emits faint whistles, as if whispering secrets only audible to the keenest of listeners. These ethereal sounds, weaved into the fabric of the symphony, add an enchanting layer of detail to this performance of whispers.
• Seasonal variations: The symphony of grass is not static but is ever-changing, influenced by the seasons themselves. In the meadows of spring, the rustling may arise jubilantly, mimicking the delightful laughter of a flourishing ecosystem. However, in the serenades of winter, the grass may whisper more solemnly, as if sharing tales of stoicism and resilience.

Nature has always been an endless source of inspiration, captivating the human mind with its enchanting beauty. One such mesmerizing sight is that of grass gently swaying in the wind, gracefully dancing to the rhythm of nature’s symphony. The fluid motion and elegance portrayed by the blades of grass as they bend and twist create an ethereal spectacle, a true masterpiece of nature’s artistry.

The graceful movement and swaying of grass serves as a reminder of the delicate balance and harmony that exists within the natural world. Each blade, unique in its position and length, contributes to the overall choreography of this mystical dance in the wind. As the gentle breeze touches the surface, the blades respond, creating a mesmerizing visual display, too beautiful to be put into words.

The dance of the grass showcases the intricate connection between the elements of the environment. It symbolizes the delicate interplay of wind, sunlight, and soil, each playing a vital role in nurturing and sustaining this elegant spectacle. The wind acts as the conductor, leading the blades in a synchronized rhythm while allowing them to express their individuality. The warm embrace of sunlight provides the energy needed, propelling this dance forward, while the soil, the steadfast foundation, supports and anchors every movement.

It is in this harmonious movement of the grass that we witness the gentle power of nature and its ability to evoke a sense of peace and tranquility within us. Observing the dance in the wind, we are reminded of the interconnectedness of all living things and the beauty that comes from embracing diversity and allowing each unique element to contribute to the symphony of life. Just as the grass sways, we too should strive to move through life gracefully and adapt to the changing winds with resilience, always finding beauty in the dance.

The aroma of nature is a symphony for our olfactory senses, encompassing a myriad of captivating scents. Among them, the earthy, fresh fragrance of verdant grass stands out as a quintessential embodiment of the natural world. This distinct aroma transports us to idyllic landscapes, where blankets of lush green grass stretch out beneath open skies, beckoning us to indulge in its sensory allure.

Let’s embark on a sensory journey and explore the elements that contribute to the intoxicating scent of verdant grass:

• Chemical compounds: The distinct smell of grass is a result of several chemical compounds released by the plant. The most prominent one is geosmin , a microbial byproduct that lends earthy undertones to the aroma. Additionally, terpenes and pyrazines contribute to the fresh, green notes.
• Chlorophyll: The vibrant color of grass, derived from chlorophyll, is not only visually pleasing but also contributes to its fragrance. This essential pigment undergoes a process called volatile breakdown , releasing compounds that add to the sweet, hay-like scent of freshly mown grass.
• Nature’s breath: The verdant grasses of meadows and lawns interact with the surrounding environment, absorbing and releasing scents. These natural surroundings infuse the grass fragrance with hints of wildflowers , tree sap , and even the subtle muskiness of damp soil after a rainfall.

The aroma of verdant grass is nature’s poetry, a fragrant ode to the beauty of the Earth. Take a moment to immerse yourself in its earthy splendor and let the essence of the grass transport you to a tranquil place where the scent of the natural world revitalizes the spirit.

When it comes to capturing the essence of nature in your writing, the humble grass can be a powerful tool. Whether you’re a writer looking to add depth to your descriptions, or simply a nature enthusiast wanting to enhance your observations, these tips and techniques will help you create evocative grass descriptions that transport your readers to lush meadows and sun-kissed fields.

• Engage the senses: To make your grass descriptions truly come alive, evoke all five senses in your writing. Describe the soft touch of the blades against the skin, the earthy scent after a summer rain, the vibrant green hues dancing beneath the sunlight, the gentle rustling sound with each passing breeze — these details will immerse your readers in the natural world.
• Select powerful adjectives: Choose specific and vivid adjectives to breathe life into your grass descriptions. Instead of “green,” opt for “lush,” “emerald,” or “verdant.” Replace “ordinary” with “exquisite” or “enchanting.” Experiment with a variety of adjectives to find the ones that best convey the mood or atmosphere you are aiming for.
• Use metaphors and similes: Comparing grass to other objects or phenomena can add depth and interest to your descriptions. For example, you could liken the way grass bends in the wind to a graceful dancer, or compare its softness to a baby’s blanket. Metaphors and similes offer a fresh perspective and help readers visualize the grass in a unique and memorable way.

By incorporating these techniques into your writing, you’ll transform simple grass descriptions into vivid, sensory experiences that captivate your readers. So, grab your pen or open your word processor, and let your imagination wander through the sprawling fields of grass, ready to be beautifully depicted in your next piece of writing.

When it comes to writing vividly, incorporating the imagery of lush green grass can transport your readers to refreshing outdoor landscapes. By infusing your prose with lively grass imagery, you can invigorate your writing, adding depth and sensory appeal. Here are a few tips to help you bring this element to life in your writing:

• Powerful metaphors: Comparing the vibrancy of a character or a situation to a verdant field of grass creates a striking visual image that leaves a lasting impression on your readers. It can convey the idea of growth, vitality, and abundance, injecting energy into your narrative.
• Evoking sensations: Describing the feel of grass beneath one’s feet or the gentle rustle as the wind playfully caresses the blades can enhance the sensory experience for your readers. This tactile imagery allows them to connect on a deeper level, immersing themselves in your writing.
• Symbolic landscapes: Grass-covered landscapes can signify themes such as renewal, rebirth, or even hidden dangers lurking beneath a seemingly calm surface. Utilizing such imagery in a symbolic context can convey meanings beyond the literal, adding layers of complexity to your storytelling.

By incorporating lively grass imagery into your prose, you breathe life into your writing, adding an organic touch that engages your readers on a profound level. Whether you use it as a metaphor, to evoke sensations, or to convey deeper meanings, the grass becomes more than just green blades. It becomes a powerful tool to infuse your writing with energy, inviting your readers to walk barefoot on the lush landscapes of your imagination.

Q: What is the purpose of the article “Earthly Whispers: Describing Grass in Creative Writing”?

A: The purpose of this article is to provide writers with creative and effective ways to describe grass in their writing, helping them paint vivid images and engage readers on a deeper level.

Q: Why is it important to be able to describe grass effectively in creative writing?

A: Grass is a common element in outdoor settings and natural landscapes, making it a frequently mentioned subject in various pieces of writing. By developing the skill to describe grass with creativity and precision, writers can capture the essence of a scene and transport readers into the world they are creating.

Q: How can describing grass enhance the overall quality of creative writing?

A: By describing grass in compelling ways, writers can bring texture, color, and movement to their scenes. Such details help establish a sensory experience for readers, making it easier for them to visualize and immerse themselves in the story or setting.

Q: What are some techniques that can be used to describe grass effectively?

A: There are several techniques that writers can employ to describe grass creatively. These include using sensory language , employing metaphors or similes, exploring variations in color and texture, and highlighting the role of grass in specific environments or seasons.

Q: How can sensory language be utilized in describing grass?

A: Sensory language involves appealing to the reader’s senses, so when describing grass, a writer might capture the softness of the blades underfoot, the earthy aroma it emits, the sound of a gentle breeze rustling through it, or the sight of dew droplets glistening on its surface. Engaging multiple senses adds depth and richness to the imagery.

Q: Can you provide an example of a metaphor or simile that can be used to depict grass?

A: Certainly! For instance, one might describe grass as a “lush green carpet,” emphasizing its vibrant and uniform appearance. Another example is comparing grass to “nature’s paintbrush,” suggesting its ability to beautify landscapes and add splashes of color.

Q: How can variations in color and texture be used to describe grass?

A: Grass can have many shades of green, from emerald to olive or lime. By exploring these variations, writers can create a more nuanced and compelling description. Texture can also vary greatly, from coarse blades to soft, velvety patches. Describing these aspects can evoke different moods or feelings associated with grass.

Q: In what ways can grass be tied to specific environments or seasons?

A: Grass can serve as a representation of the environment it thrives in. For example, tall, wild grass gently swaying in the breeze may evoke images of meadows or countryside settings, while short and perfectly manicured grass may be associated with well-maintained city parks or gardens. By linking grass to its surroundings, writers can add depth to their descriptions.

Q: Any final tips for writers looking to excel in the art of describing grass?

A: Practice is key. Engage in observation exercises to familiarize yourself with the details of grass and experiment with different descriptive approaches. Additionally, reading and studying the works of seasoned writers who skillfully depict natural environments can offer inspiration and insights to further enhance your descriptive abilities. Remember, practice and exposure to different writing styles are essential in sharpening your craft.

In conclusion, “Earthly Whispers” highlights the importance of capturing the essence of grass in creative writing, allowing readers to connect with nature on a deeper level.

Middle School Inspiration: Writing Topics for 8th Graders

Coding Dilemmas: Can We Write Return Statement in Finally Block

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Reach out to us for sponsorship opportunities.

Welcome to Creative Writing Prompts

At Creative Writing Prompts, we believe in the power of words to shape worlds. Our platform is a sanctuary for aspiring writers, seasoned wordsmiths, and everyone. Here, storytelling finds its home, and your creative journey begins its captivating voyage.

© 2024 Creativewriting-prompts.com

The Grass is not Greener on the Other Side Essay

The grass always looks greener on the other side. This saying has varied implications and can be explicated in every day’s life occurrences. The axiom implies that the grass on the neighbor’s lawn looks greener than in ones’ own. In a figurative sense, the adage can be taken to mean that one always wishes to have what belongs to another person.

This implies that people are covetous in nature and that when they acquire a coveted object, the desire for that object diminishes. In Guy De Maupassant’s short story “The Necklace”, the same questions about the challenge of coveting what one does not have arises.

The meaning of the necklace usually keeps the reader guessing as it what is its real meaning. Madame Loisel , does not value her lifestyle and heritage, and feels that she, “was by a mistake of destiny, born in a family of clerk”, and yet desires to be equal to the great, rich ladies(77). For Madame Loisel the grass is always greener on the other side, yet the desire for greener grass comes with severe consequences.

The grass is usually greener, until one desires their neighbor’s goods. When that occurs, then ones lawn looses the appeal it initially had. Thus, instead of people appreciating what they already have, they result to covet other people’s possession. When this assertion is evaluated Vis a Vis Madame Loisel, it is found to be true.

Before Madame Loisel borrowed the necklace, the grass was greener on her side; she was a much happier woman. However, all that changed the moment she gained sight of the other side. By borrowing the necklace she gained sight and knowledge about the world of the rich. Madame Loisel feels that destiny had dealt her unfairly by making her be born in a middle class family with “no expectations, no means of being known, understood, or loved”(77). She covets the life of the rich and thus desires to challenge her social status.

Madame Loisel’s covetousness is not born instantly, but develops over time and is manifested through dreams and fits of jealous fantasies; she spends a good part of her life dreaming and fantasizing about the rich.

Thus, chance to go to the ball dance emerges she sees it as the ultimate opportunity to gain access into the world of the rich, a world “she felt she… [was] made for”(78). Madam Loisel envies the rich and thus wants to escape her poverty ridden life as there is “nothing more humiliating than to look poor among other women who are rich”(79).

She fails to appreciate the “natural flowers… [that are] very stylish at this time of the year” and prefers luxury ball gowns and diamond necklaces worn by the rich(79). Such cravings for other people’s possessions come at a price as evidenced through Madam Loisel’s life. One ball dance evening of “intoxication with… triumph of her beauty in the glory of…success “(79) turns into ten years of “horrible existence of the needy”(81).

Madam Loisel has to pay “dreadful debt”; the price of her selfish desires for the lost necklace (80). Furthermore, when she wakes up from her world of illusion she realizes that valuelessness of acquiring the coveted object. She turns into the “plain goodwife”, albeit with “heroism …[on] her part”(81).

Questions abound as to what would have happened had Madame Loisel not developed the illusive desire for riches. For instance, what would have happened had Madame Forestier told Madame Loisel from the very beginning, that the necklace was fake? Most likely Mister Loisel would still come home for dinner to his good wife and enjoy a bowl of “good pot-aufeu”(77).

Moreover, Madame Loisel would be spared the harsh treatment from her husband, Mister Loisel. Having been enraged by his wife’s stupidity Mister Loisel wonders how such a small thing such as the lack of jewelry “for one gay evening” would lead his wife to commit such despicable acts (80). Being a devoted and loving husband, Mister Loisel would also be spared sacrificing the inheritance and “compromise all the rest of his life” (81).

The diamond necklace, which in real sense is a string of stones, illustrates the false illusion created by Madame Loisel desires for riches. Through the “black satin box” the reader is able to see the black side of the rich, which is oblivious to Madame Loisel. For instance, Madame Forestier is not concerned for Madam Loisel’s plight especially after the tragedy of the necklace.

The false necklace is the ticket to Madam Loisel’s desired land of the rich. Yet, the acquisition of her dream “awakens [her] desires… [and gives her a false] sense of complete victory” (79). Madame Forestiers lifestyle makes Madam Loisel think that the grass is greener on the other side, making Madam Loisel forget her true values and the simple pleasures of family happiness.

Works Cited

Barnard, Barbara, and Winn, David, Access literature. An introduction to Fiction,Poetry and Drama. Boston: Thomson Wadsworth, 2006. Print.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2018, October 17). The Grass is not Greener on the Other Side. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-grass-is-not-greener-on-the-other-side/

"The Grass is not Greener on the Other Side." IvyPanda , 17 Oct. 2018, ivypanda.com/essays/the-grass-is-not-greener-on-the-other-side/.

IvyPanda . (2018) 'The Grass is not Greener on the Other Side'. 17 October.

IvyPanda . 2018. "The Grass is not Greener on the Other Side." October 17, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-grass-is-not-greener-on-the-other-side/.

1. IvyPanda . "The Grass is not Greener on the Other Side." October 17, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-grass-is-not-greener-on-the-other-side/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "The Grass is not Greener on the Other Side." October 17, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-grass-is-not-greener-on-the-other-side/.

• Appearance and Reality in "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant
• “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant: Analyzing a Theme of the Insecurity
• Guy de Maupassant's "The Jewelry": Summary, Literary Elements, and Character Analysis Essay
• The Mount Everest Disaster of 1996 as It Happened
• "Oate's" and "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?"
• Light v. Darkness Motif in the "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin
• Comparative Analysis of Two Characters in The Namesake
• The Adventure of the German Student

National Forage & Grasslands Curriculum

• Description
• Core Group of Developers
• Regional Advisors Group
• Topic Experts Group of Developers
• Lesson Template
• Instructor Materials: Assessments: Prerequisite Test
• Production Process
• Learner Survey
• Prerequisite Test
• Testing Rationale
• Writing Evaluation
• Pretest - Introduction
• Instructional Objectives
• Define forages and differentiate between forage types.
• Explain how forages have been and are essential to civilization.
• Summarize the history of forages.
• Define grassland agriculture. Discuss a typical grassland ecosystem.
• Define sustainable agriculture and discuss how forages are a key component.
• List several grassland organizations and describe their role in promoting forages and grassland agriculture.
• Pretest - World Grasslands
• Define and describe the natural grasslands of the world.
• Locate and describe the tropical grasslands and their forages.
• Locate and describe the temperate grasslands and their forages.
• Important issues affecting grasslands and their forages.
• Pretest - U.S. Grasslands
• Describe the role of forages in the history of the US.
• Describe the current role of forages in US agriculture.
• Discuss regional forage production.
• Discuss forages from a livestock perspective.
• Discuss the environmental benefits of forages.
• Discuss the possible future role of forages in the US.
• Pretest - Grasses

Grasses are very common but very important.

• Differentiate warm-season from cool-season grasses.
• Summarize the distinctive physical characteristics of grasses
• Describe the utilization of grass in forage-livestock systems.
• Describe how knowledge of grass regrowth is beneficial to forage managers.
• Provide specific information about the common grasses used as forage
• Pretest - Legumes
• Legumes are a valuable part of forage production.
• Differentiate warm-season from cool-season legumes.
• Summarize the distinctive physical characteristics of legumes.
• Define the utilization of legumes in forage-livestock systems.
• Provide specific information about the common legumes used as forage.
• Pretest - Plant Identification
• Explain the reasons why forage plant identification is important.
• Describe the major differences between the plant families used as forages.
• Provide the vocabulary needed to identify grasses.
• Provide the basic vocabulary for identifying legumes.
• Identify common species of forage.
• Provide practice in identifying common forages.
• Pretest - Forage Selection
• The selection of a forage plant is crucial.
• Determine limitations to forage selection.
• Forage selection requires an understanding of species and cultivars.
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of selecting mixtures.
• A model for forage selection
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of pasture establishment
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of pasture renovation.
• Discuss the steps in seedbed preparation.
• Discuss the considerations of seed quality.
• Discuss the methods and timing of seeding.
• Discuss the purpose and wise utilization of companion crops.
• Define the term weed.
• Explain why producers and the public should be concerned about weeds.
• Describe several ways in which weeds cause forage crop and animal production losses.
• Describe methods in determining quality
• List several poisonous plants found on croplands, pasturelands, rangelands, and forests.
• Describe the five general categories of weed control methods.
• Describe the concept of Integrated Pest Management and how it applies to weed control.
• Distinguish between selective and non-selective herbicides and give an example of each.
• Describe how weeds are categorized by life cycle and how this is correlated with specific control methods.
• Describe conditions that tend to favor weed problems in pastures and describe how to alleviate these conditions.
• Describe several common weed control practices in alfalfa production.
• List printed and electronic sources of weed control information.
• List local, regional, and national sources of weed control information.
• Discuss the basics of grass growth.
• Describe the impact of defoliation on grass plants.
• Discuss how grasses regrow.
• Discuss how livestock interaction impacts grass growth.
• Discuss grass growth in mixed stands.
• Discuss the practical applications of regrowth mechanisms.
• Discuss the importance of soil fertility and the appropriate use of fertilization.
• Define and discuss the nitrogen cycle.
• Discuss the major elements needed for good soil fertility and plant growth.
• Define and discuss micronutrients.
• Discuss the uses and methods of liming.
• Discuss fertilizer management for mixed stands.
• Define biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) and explain its importance.
• Describe the benefits of BNF in economic and environmental terms.
• Estimate the amount of BNF that is contributed by various crops.
• List and discuss factors that affect the quantity of nitrogen fixed.
• Describe the processes of infection and nodulation in forage legumes.
• Describe the process of inoculation in the production of forage legumes.
• Discuss the role of grazing in a pasture-livestock system.
• List and discuss the types of grazing.
• Compare and contrast the different types of grazing.
• Discuss the livestock dynamics on pastures and grazing.
• Discuss the utilization of a yearly grazing calendar.
• Discuss the purpose for mechanically harvested forages.
• List the characteristics of good hay and the steps needed to make it.
• Determine the characteristics of good silage and the steps in producing it.
• Discuss the potential dangers in mechanically harvesting and storing forages.
• Compare and contrast the types of storage and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each.
• Describe the importance of irrigation in producing forages.
• Describe major types of irrigation systems in US forage production.
• List and discuss factors that affect irrigation efficiency.
• Describe basic principles of scheduling irrigation for efficient use of water resources.
• Describe potential problems that may arise from the use of irrigation in forages.
• Define forage quality and management decisions that increase forage quality.
• Describe important factors that determine hay and silage quality.
• Discuss components of forage
• Define and discuss antiquality factors affecting animal health
• Discuss the need for and progress towards standards in national forage testing
• Discuss the history of forage breeding in the United States
• Discuss the philosophy of why new plant cultivars are needed
• Discuss the objectives of forage plant breeding
• Discuss the process of creating a new cultivar
• Discuss the steps in maintaining and producing new cultivars
• Compare and contrast plant breeding in the US and Europe
• Define a livestock system and their importance
• Describe the basic principles of a successful forage-livestock system
• Discuss forage-livestock systems in a larger picture
• Discuss how economics are a part of a forage-livestock system
• Discuss the types of forage-livestock systems
• Discuss the importance of utilizing forages other than common grasses and legumes
• Discuss the species suitable to use as miscellaneous forages
• Compare and contrast the species suitable to use as miscellaneous forages
• Discuss the utilization of crop residues in a forage-livestock system
• Discuss the utilization of a yearly grazing calendar
• Discuss the balance needed between input and output
• Describe marginal analysis
• Discuss macroeconomic questions
• Discuss microeconomic questions
• Discuss enterprise budgets
• Discuss the available tools for better economic management
• Describe several important environmental issues that relate to forage production
• Define the terms renewable resource and nonrenewable and give examples of each resource type that are related to forage production
• Define the term sustainable agriculture and apply the concept to forage production
• Diagram and describe a sustainable forage production system
• Discuss factors that contribute to soil erosion and discuss ways that soil erosion control can be integrated into forage product
• Discuss advantages and disadvantages in using synthetic agrichemicals in forage production
• Explain the concept of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and how it can be used to enhance sustainable forage production
• Define the term biodiversity and explain how this concept could be applied to forage production
• Discuss the controversy over using agricultural land to produce crops for animal consumption
• Instructor Feedback
• Laboratory Strategies
• Lecture Strategies
• Mailing Groups
• Math Review
• Practice Exam
• Reading Sample
• Publications
• Future Students
• Current Students
• Alumni & Parents
• Faculty & Staff

You are here

Next in importance to the divine profusion of water, light, and air, those three great physical facts which render existence possible, may be reckoned the universal beneficence of grass. Grass is the forgiveness of nature-her constant benediction...Forests decay, harvests perish, flowers vanish, but grass is immortal. It yields no fruit in earth or air, and yet should its harvest fail for a single year, famine would depopulate the earth. Grass softens the rude outline of the world. Its tenacious fibers hold the earth in its place. It invades the solitude of deserts, climbs the inaccessible slopes and forbidding pinnacles of mountains, modifies climates, and determines the history, character, and destiny of nations. -John James Ingalls

Forages are plants or parts of plants eaten by livestock and wildlife and the variety of plants that are eaten is amazing. It is helpful, therefore, to classify those plants into groupings. The major group of forages are grasses (75%), but there are also legumes, forbs, shrubs, brassicas, and some trees. Ten of the fifteen crops that keep mankind from starvation are grasses. There are around 10,000 species, though about 1400 are seen in the United States, covering almost half of the nation. Only orchids and daisies have more species that grasses. There are grasses for almost every temperature and precipitation range. Only lichens and algae extend to wider climate zones. Because of the wide range of adaptation for many grasses, they are often introduced into new areas. Many of the common grasses used today for forage in the U.S. are not native, and scientists throughout the world work to breed grasses to thrive in varying places. Learning to manage imported or new species is a part of current grassland management. Grasses are often taken for granted but actually are the most important plant group.

Grasses belong to the Poaceae family which is also known as Gramineae. Grasses are usually herbaceous which indicate that they produce a seed, do not develop woody tissue, and die down at the end of a growing season. They are monocotyledonous which means one leaf sprouts from the seed, and often have jointed, slender, sheathed leaves. A cotyledon is the first leaf to emerge from a seed. Legumes are dicotyledons, meaning two leaves emerge from the soil surface. Grasses can be large, like bamboo or corn, or small like annual bluegrass . Grass plants develop fruit called grain which feed much of the world and yet have green leaves and stems not digestible for humans that are the main food source for animals. Grasses can also be used for building materials, medicines, and biomass fuels.

Contact Info

Forage Information System Oregon State University Department of Crop and Soil Science 109 Crop Science Building Corallis, OR 97331-3002

How To Describe Grass In Writing (100 Best Words & Examples)

The way we describe elements like grass can profoundly impact the reader’s immersion in our narrative.

Here is how to describe grass in writing:

Describe grass in writing by using vivid adjectives like lush, crisp, or verdant. Incorporate sensory details to evoke sights, sounds, and smells, such as dew-kissed blades or rustling whispers. Use metaphors and similes for creative imagery, like a sea of green velvet.

This guide offers the best tips for effectively describing grass, along with over 100 best words, phrases, and examples.

1. Starting With the Basics: Types of Grass in Writing

Table of Contents

Understanding different types of grass is fundamental for realistic and relatable descriptions.

Various grass types have distinct appearances and properties, which can significantly influence the scene’s atmosphere and authenticity.

By incorporating specific grass types into your narrative, you add a layer of detail that can enhance the reader’s visual and emotional connection to the setting.

Check out this chart of grass types:

• The Bermuda grass, with its deep green hue, created a fine-textured carpet under the summer sun.
• Kentucky bluegrass, rich in blue-green color, waved gently in the cool breeze.
• The St. Augustine grass’ dark green, coarse blades provided a lush backdrop to the garden scene.

2. Choosing Strong Adjectives for Grass

The power of the right adjectives in describing grass cannot be overstated.

They are the essential ingredients that can transform a simple patch of grass into a vibrant, sensory-rich element of your story. Strong adjectives evoke emotions, paint vivid pictures, and create a tangible experience for the reader, turning the grass into a living, breathing part of your narrative landscape.

• The radiant, verdant grass glistened with morning dew.
• Sharp, crisp blades crunched softly beneath my feet.
• Lush, feathery tufts swayed gently, a green ocean of calm.

3. Setting the Scene: Using Strong Adjectives for Grass

The right choice of adjectives is essential in setting the scene.

Strong adjectives for grass can help to create a mood, whether it’s one of serenity, vibrancy, or mystery.

By carefully selecting adjectives, you can transport the reader to the exact setting you envision, making the grass an active part of the scene that contributes to the overall emotional impact.

• Verdant grass blanketed the hills, radiating with life.
• A dewy meadow, sublime in the morning light.
• Crisp, feathery blades formed a lush green carpet.

4. Engaging the Senses: How to Describe the Smell of Grass

Descriptive writing that engages the senses can draw readers into the narrative more deeply, creating a memorable and immersive experience.

Describing the smell of grass is particularly effective because it’s a scent familiar to many.

Whether it’s the fresh aroma of a morning meadow or the distinct scent of freshly cut grass, engaging the olfactory senses can vividly bring a scene to life.

• The sweet, earthy aroma of freshly cut grass filled the air, evoking memories of summer.
• A fresh, invigorating scent lingered as morning dew settled on the grass.
• The grass emitted a fragrant, sweet-smelling bouquet after the rain.

5. Bringing Textures to Life: How to Describe the Feel of Grass

Texture is a vital aspect of descriptive writing, adding a tangible quality to your narrative.

Describing the feel of grass helps readers connect physically with the scene.

Whether it’s the roughness of wild grasses or the silky touch of a well-maintained lawn, the way grass feels can significantly enhance the vividness of your description.

• Walking barefoot, the rugged, bristly zoysia grass prickled against my skin.
• The velvety, tender Bermuda grass was a soft cushion under the children’s feet.
• Lying under the oak tree, the luxurious, supple Kentucky bluegrass enveloped me in comfort.

6. Visual Drama: How to Describe Tall Grass in Your Scenes

Tall grass can add a dramatic element to your scene, creating a sense of scale, mystery, or wild beauty.

Describing tall grass involves focusing on its height, how it interacts with the wind, and its role in framing the landscape. This can help in creating a visually compelling and emotionally charged setting.

• The tall grass, towering and swaying, framed the distant mountains.
• In the wind, the grass danced like waves, creating a rustling symphony.
• The tall grass stood sentinel, its imposing height casting long shadows.

7. Capturing Contrast: How to Describe Dead Grass

Describing dead grass can be an effective way to convey a sense of desolation or change.

The contrast between vibrant and dead grass can symbolize decay, neglect, or a shift in seasons or circumstances.

By focusing on the texture, color, and emotional impact of dead grass, you can create a powerful scene that resonates with readers.

• The brittle, yellowed grass crunched underfoot, a testament to the relentless sun.
• Once lush, the meadow was now a forgotten wasteland of lifeless blades.
• The gray-brown expanse spoke of better days, the wilted grass whispering tales of neglect.

8. Employing Figurative Language in Grass Descriptions

Using figurative language, like metaphors and similes, adds a layer of creativity and depth to your grass descriptions.

It allows you to make unique comparisons and bring out emotions and nuances that literal descriptions might not capture.

This technique can transform the way readers perceive and feel about a scene, making it more vivid and engaging.

• The dry grass crunched like brittle bones underfoot, a sign of the parched summer.
• Blades of grass fluttered like feathers in a breeze, creating a tranquil green sea.
• The lawn was a lush carpet, contrasting sharply with the sun-scorched earth beyond.

9. Color and Contrast: Conveying the Aesthetic of Grass

The color of grass and the contrast it creates with its surroundings can significantly affect the aesthetic and mood of a scene.

Different shades of green and the way grass changes color in various conditions can convey a range of emotions and atmospheres.

Using color effectively in your descriptions can bring scenes to life and add depth to your narrative.

• The deep greens of the lawn stood out against the earthy browns of the surrounding landscape.
• A field of pale, sprouting green signaled the arrival of spring amid the remnants of winter.
• The golden hues of the autumn grass created a striking contrast with the vibrant fall foliage.

10. Impactful Scenery: Describing Grass in Different Weathers and Seasons

Grass changes dramatically with the seasons and weather, offering a variety of descriptive opportunities.

From the lush green of summer to the frost-covered blades of winter, each season brings its unique characteristics to the grass.

By incorporating these details, you can create a dynamic and evolving backdrop for your narrative.

• In summer, the sun-soaked, vibrant grass was a tapestry of life.
• The dappled, windswept grass of fall whispered of change.
• Under the winter sky, the grass lay frosty and still, a white blanket covering the earth.
• Spring brought rejuvenated, sprouting grass, signaling renewal and growth.

11. Highlighting the Role of Grass in Setting Atmosphere

Grass isn’t just a physical element. It can play a significant role in setting the atmosphere of a scene.

Whether creating a sense of peace, foreboding, or nostalgia, the way you describe grass can set the tone for the entire scene and influence the reader’s emotional response.

• The serene meadow, with its soft, green blanket, invited a sense of tranquility.
• Tangled, overgrown grass created an air of mystery and unease.
• The familiar scent and gentle sway of the grass evoked a deep sense of nostalgia.

12. Using Grass to Reflect Characters’ Emotions

Grass can be used metaphorically to mirror the emotions and inner states of your characters.

Describing grass in a way that aligns with your character’s feelings can add depth to your storytelling and create a stronger bond between the reader and the characters.

• The wild, unkempt grass mirrored his turbulent thoughts.
• As her mood brightened, the grass seemed to become more vibrant and full of life.
• In his loneliness, even the grass seemed wilted and desolate.

13. Creating Dynamic Scenes with Grass Movement

The movement of grass, whether caused by the wind or characters interacting with it, can add dynamism to a scene.

Describing how grass moves can convey the passage of time, the presence of unseen forces, or the actions of characters, making the scene more vivid and engaging.

• The grass swayed rhythmically, like a dance choreographed by the wind.
• As she ran through the field, the grass parted and swirled around her.
• The sudden rustling in the grass hinted at an unseen presence, adding suspense.

14. Integrating Grass into the Broader Landscape

Grass is often part of a larger landscape, and its description should integrate seamlessly with the broader setting.

Describing grass in relation to other elements like trees, hills, or bodies of water can create a more comprehensive and immersive picture of the scene.

• The grassy plains merged with the distant hills, creating a harmonious panorama.
• Lush grass bordered the serene lake, its reflection dancing in the water.
• Between scattered patches of grass, flowerbeds added splashes of color to the garden .

15. Utilize Grass as a Symbol for Time’s Passage

Grass can be a powerful symbol to illustrate the passage of time in a narrative.

Describing its transformation through seasons or over the years can reflect changes in the setting, characters, or broader story themes. This approach adds a layer of depth, allowing the grass to serve as a metaphor for growth, decay, or the cyclical nature of life.

• In Spring: The young grass, sprouting with vibrant eagerness, symbolized new beginnings as the protagonist embarked on their journey.
• In Summer: The full, lush grass mirrored the peak of the protagonist’s achievements, a time of prosperity and fulfillment.
• In Winter: The withered, frostbitten grass reflected the character’s sense of loss and the end of an era, laying bare the relentless march of time.

16. Contrast Man-Made and Natural Elements Through Grass

Describing grass in juxtaposition with man-made elements can highlight themes of nature versus civilization or the impact of human activities on the environment.

This contrast can create a striking visual and thematic element in your writing.

It also offers commentary on the relationship between humanity and nature. And that’s pretty dang cool.

• Against Concrete: The solitary patch of grass, fighting for life in a crack of the sidewalk, spoke of resilience amidst urban sprawl.
• Beside Machinery: The untouched, wild grass surrounding the rusted machinery was a silent protest against the abandonment of nature.
• Near Architecture: The meticulously landscaped grass, with its unnatural perfection, stood in stark contrast to the wild, untamed forest at the city’s edge.

17. Reflect Characters’ Inner World through Grass

Use grass as a metaphor to mirror your characters’ emotions or internal states.

Describing grass in a way that aligns with a character’s feelings or thoughts can deepen readers’ understanding of their internal conflicts, joys, or transformations. This technique can subtly convey character development without explicitly stating it.

• During Conflict: The protagonist gazed upon the chaotic, storm-tossed grass, its turmoil mirroring the tumult in their heart.
• In Solitude: The lone figure sat in the midst of the overgrown, neglected grass, its wildness echoing their sense of isolation.
• In Joy: The vibrant, sunlit field of grass, swaying in harmony with the breeze, reflected the character’s newfound sense of freedom and happiness.

Here is a good video about how to describe grass in writing:

30 Best Words to Describe Grass

I couldn’t resist adding a list of some of my favoriate words to describe grass:

• Verdant: Lush and richly green.
• Wispy: Thin, delicate, and light.
• Lush: Abundant and luxuriant.
• Pristine: Unspoiled and pure.
• Vibrant: Bright and full of life.
• Glistening: Shiny with moisture.
• Feathery: Soft and light.
• Undulating: Gently waving.
• Dew-kissed: Fresh with morning dew.
• Rustic: Natural and unrefined.
• Emerald: Deep, rich green.
• Swaying: Moving gently in the wind.
• Manicured: Neatly trimmed and maintained.
• Flourishing: Growing vigorously.
• Tranquil: Peaceful and calm.
• Dappled: Marked with spots or patches.
• Silken: Smooth and fine.
• Billowing: Flowing or bulging out.
• Luminous: Reflecting light, glowing.
• Crunchy: Crisp and making a crackling sound.
• Majestic: Grand and impressive.
• Plush: Soft and luxurious.
• Wilted: Drooping or fading.
• Sparse: Thinly dispersed or scattered.
• Frosted: Covered with a thin layer of frost.
• Sun-drenched: Bathed in sunlight.
• Barren: Devoid of vegetation.
• Wind-swept: Shaped by the wind.
• Rippling: Forming small waves.
• Bountiful: Abundant and plentiful.

30 Best Phrases to Describe Grass

Here are great phrases to describe grass in writing:

• Like a sea of green velvet.
• Carpeted in a lush emerald.
• Whispers in the wind’s embrace.
• A tapestry of vibrant life.
• Dancing under the sun’s caress.
• A verdant blanket over the earth.
• Soft as nature’s carpet.
• Glistening with morning’s first light.
• A patchwork of green and gold.
• Swaying with rhythmic grace.
• Alive with the sounds of nature.
• A playground for the breeze.
• Nature’s cushion underfoot.
• A canvas of natural beauty.
• Shimmering in the moonlight.
• A haven of tranquility.
• Majestic in its simplicity.
• Rustling softly, a soothing melody.
• Sprinkled with the dew of dawn.
• A whisper of life in the wild.
• Sunlit strands of earth’s hair.
• A symphony of green waves.
• The earth’s softest blanket.
• Cradling the landscape in green.
• A mirror of the season’s change.
• Frosted tips in the winter chill.
• A refuge for hidden creatures.
• A quivering sea of jade.
• An oasis in the desert of concrete.
• Bowing gracefully to the wind’s tune.

How to Describe Grass in Different Genres

The description of grass can vary significantly across different genres, each requiring a unique approach to fit the tone, style, and mood of the writing.

Here’s a guide to describing grass in various literary genres.

In fantasy, grass can be imbued with magical qualities, becoming an element that adds to the wonder and mystique of the world. Descriptions can be lush and imaginative, often serving as a backdrop to fantastical creatures or enchanted landscapes.

Example: In the heart of the Enchanted Forest, the grass shimmered with a luminescent glow, each blade a miniature sword forged by the magic of the land. This was no ordinary meadow; it was a verdant dance floor for fairies and sprites under the moonlit sky.

2. Science Fiction

In science fiction, grass can be depicted in futuristic or alien settings, often highlighting the contrast between nature and technology. Descriptions might focus on how grass has evolved or been altered in these new worlds.

Example: The bio-engineered grass on planet Zerion was a tapestry of neon blues and purples, its blades emitting soft, pulsating lights. Here, the grass was a living, breathing organism, with each sway revealing the harmonious blend of nature and advanced alien technology.

3. Mystery/Thriller

In mystery or thriller genres, grass can set a foreboding or suspenseful mood. Descriptions might focus on hidden dangers lurking within or the grass as a silent witness to unseen crimes.

Example: The tall, unkempt grass around the abandoned mansion whispered secrets of the past. Each step I took seemed to stir whispers of hidden truths, the blades brushing against me as if urging me to uncover the mysteries they had seen.

In romance, grass can serve as a setting for intimate encounters or symbolize the growth and nurturing of love. Descriptions are often soft, gentle, and imbued with warmth.

Example: We lay side by side on the soft, sun-kissed grass, its tender blades caressing our skin. Here, in this secluded meadow, surrounded by nature’s embrace, our love bloomed like the wildflowers around us.

5. Historical Fiction

In historical fiction, grass can reflect the time period and setting, often used to create an authentic backdrop to the narrative. Descriptions may focus on the landscape’s role in historical events or daily life.

Example: The grass in the colonial fields was a rugged, untamed sprawl, a testament to the hard life of the settlers. It stood tall and resilient, much like the people who toiled upon it, shaping the land and their destiny with each day’s labor.

In horror, grass can be depicted as eerie and sinister, contributing to the atmosphere of fear and dread. Descriptions might include unsettling details or suggest that something malevolent hides within.

Example: The grass around the derelict house was dark and slick, almost as if stained by the shadows that clung to it. It rustled not with the wind but with a chilling life of its own, hiding whatever horrors lay in wait under its deceivingly ordinary surface.

In poetry, grass can be a symbol or metaphor, used to convey deeper meanings and emotions. Descriptions are often rich in imagery and rhythm, capturing the essence of grass in a few powerful words or lines.

Example: Whispering blades of green, / A sea of life, unseen, / Rustle their secret song, / Where hearts and dreams belong.

8. Children’s Literature

In children’s literature, grass is often depicted in a playful and colorful manner, contributing to a sense of adventure and wonder. Descriptions can be simple yet evocative, capturing the imagination of young readers.

Example: The grass in Lilly’s backyard was a magic carpet of the brightest green, each blade tickling her toes as she ran, laughing and chasing butterflies. It was a jungle, a kingdom, a stage for her wildest adventures.

Final Thoughts: How To Describe Grass In Writing

I hope this guide helps you write grass descriptions that readers love.

For even more guides on writing descriptions, check out some of the other blog posts below.

Related Posts:

• How to Describe Birds in Writing (17 Best Tips & Examples)
• How to Describe a Beach in Writing (21 Best Tips & Examples)
• How to Describe Mountains in Writing (21 Tips & Examples)
• How to Describe a Sunset in Writing: 100 Best Words & Phrases

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

• View all journals
• Explore content
• About the journal
• Publish with us
• Sign up for alerts
• Published: 20 June 1918

The Story of a Grass

Nature volume  101 ,  pages 317–318 ( 1918 ) Cite this article

2661 Accesses

Metrics details

GRASSES form one of the largest and most wide-spread families, adapted to very different conditions of soil and climate, but with a remarkably uniform plan of structure. Wherever conditions allow of plant-life on land, there, almost without exception, the family is represented. In number of species the grass family falls short of other great families of flowering plants, Compositæ, Leguminosæ, or Orchids, but in the aggregation of many individuals of one and the same or a few species, either growing alone or densely scattered through a mixed herbage covering large areas, it forms a pre-eminent type of the earth's vegetation—as, for instance, in the grass-carpets forming the meadows or pastures of temperate or cold climates, or the coarser growth prevalent over vast areas, as in steppe or prairie vegetation.

Article PDF

Rights and permissions.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article.

The Story of a Grass . Nature 101 , 317–318 (1918). https://doi.org/10.1038/101317a0

Download citation

Issue Date : 20 June 1918

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1038/101317a0

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

Quick links

• Explore articles by subject
• Guide to authors
• Editorial policies

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

We use cookies to enhance our website for you. Proceed if you agree to this policy or learn more about it.

• Essay Database >
• Essays Examples >
• Essay Topics

Essays on Grass

174 samples on this topic

Writing tons of Grass papers is an inherent part of present-day studying, be it in high-school, college, or university. If you can do that all by yourself, that's just awesome; yet, other learners might not be that fortunate, as Grass writing can be quite troublesome. The collection of free sample Grass papers offered below was formed in order to help embattled students rise up to the challenge.

On the one hand, Grass essays we present here precisely demonstrate how a really terrific academic paper should be developed. On the other hand, upon your demand and for a reasonable cost, a professional essay helper with the relevant academic background can put together a fine paper example on Grass from scratch.

Badlands National Park: The Essentials Reports Example

Expertly crafted essay on health advocacy campaign.

Enactment of the Proposed Policies

The Everglades National Park: A Top-Quality Research Paper For Your Inspiration

INTRODUCTION

Good Example Of Convertible Bonds Essay

Introduction to Convertible Bonds

Convertible bonds consist of the bonds that are easily converted into the stocks. These convertible bonds are issued by the company and like any other normal bonds it has maturity date and face value. The convertible bondholder has all the rights of converting the bond into the predetermined share numbers of the respective company in an identified period. The factors influencing the bondholder converting or not depend on the stock interest rates and prices.

Contract conditions and Payoffs

Research Paper On The Dust Bowl

Good essay on days and nights in america, exemplar essay on textile, fashion and sustainability in alexandra kehayoglou’s work to write after, “my last duchess”: free sample essay to follow, example of upingngivik (summer camp site) research paper.

Nicotye Samayualie, Canadian Inuit Cape Dorset Artist

Scientific Inquiry In Biology Essays Examples

Option A Observation: During the winter, you spread salt daily on your driveway to melt the snow. In the springtime, when the lawn begins to grow, you notice that there is no grass growing for about 3 inches from the driveway. Furthermore, the grass seems to be growing more slowly up to about 1 foot from the driveway. Question: Might grass growth be inhibited by salt?

Human Rights For Orphans & Abandoned Children Without Adequate Care Question & Answer Sample

Vital stakeholders in advocating & protection of children's rights

Exemplar Essay On The Physics Of Soccer To Write After

Poem explication {type) to use as a writing model, example of report on millennium park.

Space/ Scale/ Territory

Good Example Of Office Art Memo Essay

Perfect model essay on sioux spirituality in the grass dancer, proper case study example about stakeholders.

Analysis of the Documentary Food, Inc. through the Lens of Ethical Theories and Ideas

Economic Value Of Golf Course And Coastal Trail Essay To Use For Practical Writing Help

Example of essay on the contradiction of american history, good “the use of literary devices by emily dickinson in ‘a bird came down the walk-’ ” research paper example, expertly crafted essay on functional space in tanner and jamison landscapes, free low impact manufacturing – the circular economy essay example.

The Name of class

Introduction 1 Manufacturing Process 2 Structural Components 2 Electrical Components 4 Functional Components 4 Sustainable Industrial Systems 5 Industrial Reusability 6 Service Reusability 6 Remanufacturing 6 Solutions and Interventions 6 Modifying the Structural Size and Weight of the Current Components 7 Creation of a recycling and collection center 7 Using high quality materials for all components 7 Reuse of activities 7 Sustainability in the individual components 7 Conclusion 8

References 8

Perfect Model Research Paper On The American Dream

Good soil engineering/ earthwork question & answer example, suspension bridges: physics assignment you might want to emulate, free essay on arts and public market, proper argumentative essay example about proposition 187, good research paper about kantian philosophy of aesthetic judgement and representation: bierstadt’s painting analysis, free essay on economic value of golf course and coastal trail, lululemon athletica inc. case study: a sample case study for inspiration & mimicking.

[First Name Last Name]

Inspiring Literature Review About Mirror Of Minds: Images Of Internally Displaced African Women Through Biographies And Poetry

Expertly crafted case study on domestic violence, whitman response essay template for faster writing, sample report on football, a global game.

(Name of author)

Exemplar Case Study On Magentic Resonance Angiography (MRA) Of The Remal Artery To Write After

The creation of theme in robert frost’s “the road not taken”: essay you might want to emulate.

Insrtuctor’s Name

Reflections Essay Creative Writing Sample

Research paper on art and prostitution: examining the lives of harlots through paintings, anthropology of drugs: a comparative study of two books essay, soybeans and sweet corn crop rotation: exemplar term paper to follow.

My two-year crop rotation plan will include seed corn and soybeans. Soybeans will be planted in the first year on a virgin land followed by seed corn in the second year. The inclusion of a leguminous crop, like soybeans, in crop rotation, improves the soil fertility as well as the structure (Mohler and Johnson, 2009). Legumes releases nitrogen to the soil, which will reduce the amount of nitrogen fertilizer needed for the sweet corn in the following year (Griffin, Liebman, and Jemison, 2000). These crops will be planted in North Carolina.

Exemplar Research Paper On History Of Oil Pipeline Incidents In The USA To Write After

Good example of tennis – djokovic vs nadal essay, free perceiving the environment through theories: the world in the essay sample.

Eyes of Berlyn and Brunswik

The Effects Of Climate Change On Allergies And Asthma Cases Research Papers Example

The Effects of Climate Change on Allergies and Asthma Cases

Asthma Care Plan Case Study

Perfect model research proposal on project : soft & hard landscape works at the park adjacent to bawabat al sharq mall..

Contractor: AL Jaber Transport & General Contracting, LLC.     

Abstract. The installation of water table control in any soils is a key tool in the efforts to improve the soil environment for better and effective growth of vegetation. In addition to this, water table control installations also regulate or manage the irrigation water and drainage. This systems help in storage of water for future use as well as ensuring the rainfall is effectively used. This study looks forward to exploring the effects of a poorly controlled water table and how the damages involved can be done away with.

Good Storming The Gates Of Paradise Essay Example

DateInstitution:

Good Ernest Martin Hennigns: “The Goat Herder” Essay Example

Good essay on cut the stem while under water.

Ikebana Event Class Reflection

Example Of Clintons Health Care Plan Case Study

CLINTON’S HEALTHCARE PLAN

Good Example Of Lies Told In American History Essay

Development, consolidation and collapse of the mongol empire research paper, research paper on trace the scientific method in primary research scientific article.

The null hypothesis of the article indicates that Nootka Lupine or the black mulch do facilitate the growth and establishment of the Sikta spruce, while the alternative hypothesis indicates that article indicates that Nootka Lupine or the black mulch do facilitate the growth and establishment of the Sikta spruce. This is aimed to answer the question of how the survival of birch seedling and birch depreciated in the presence of the dense grass but not in the presence of the dense lupine on its own (Riege, 2009).

Control group

Sample Essay On Accounting Quality

Free arts and public market essay sample.

The research project that is undertaken is the feasibility of establishing an Arts and Public Market in a suburban location. The goal of the research is to establish a suitable number of vendors for the space and a representative number of customers to keep the market a viable business enterprise. This is a new venture and it's success will depend on the steady stream of traffic. The additional employment that the Arts and Public market will provide for the area increases the viability of the area to sustain a new venture.

Free Essay On Kokin Wakashu, The Six Season Books

Free utilization of metaphoric expressions by children and adults: a comparative qualitative evaluation research paper example.

An Assignment Submitted by

The Grassland Ecosystem Essay Sample

The student name

Good Example Of The Time It Never Rained By Elmer Kelton Book Review

275 words = 1 page double-spaced

Password recovery email has been sent to [email protected]

Use your new password to log in

You are not register!

By clicking Register, you agree to our Terms of Service and that you have read our Privacy Policy .

Now you can download documents directly to your device!

Check your email! An email with your password has already been sent to you! Now you can download documents directly to your device.

or Use the QR code to Save this Paper to Your Phone

The sample is NOT original!

Short on a deadline?

Don't waste time. Get help with 11% off using code - GETWOWED

No, thanks! I'm fine with missing my deadline

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Poetry — Carl Sandburg Grass

Carl Sandburg Grass

• Categories: Poetry

About this sample

Words: 837 |

Published: Mar 5, 2024

Words: 837 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr. Heisenberg

Verified writer

• Expert in: Literature

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

3 pages / 1195 words

4 pages / 1801 words

2 pages / 1071 words

4 pages / 1748 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Poetry

William Blake's "The Lamb" is a renowned poem that has fascinated readers for centuries. The poem is part of a collection known as "Songs of Innocence," first published in 1789. The poem is a short, simple, and sweet piece that [...]

Poetry has a universal appeal that transcends time and space, evoking emotions and inspiring reflection. Robert Frost's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" is a prime example of the power of poetry to captivate and provoke [...]

Rudyard Kipling's poem "The White Man's Burden" was penned in 1899 at the height of European colonialism and imperialism. The poem reflects the prevalent attitudes towards colonial rule and the perceived responsibilities of the [...]

Allen Ginsberg is a prominent figure in American literature, known for his influential poetry that captures the essence of the Beat Generation and critiques the social and political landscape of America during the Cold War era. [...]

Carol Ann Duffy wrote 'The World's Wife' in order to scrutinize the representation of both men and women, inspired by her strong feminist views -- reconstructing, for example, many of the 'voiceless women' from throughout [...]

Across Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and ‘For My Lover, Returning to His Wife’ by Anne Sexton, jealousy is presented as both resulting in self-deprecation and anger. Whereas in ‘After the Lunch’ by Wendy Cope a form of love [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

Keum Suk Gendry-Kim, Grass

Ms. Gendry-Kim, whose graphic novels also include  The Song of My Father ,  Jiseul , and  Kogaeyi , will be honored at the  Krause Essay Prize award ceremony on  Thursday, October 29 at 7:00 p.m.  via Zoom , where she will read from the winning work. There she will receive the Prize’s $10,000 award and an inscribed walnut letterbox handcrafted by a local Iowa artisan. She will be joined by Vancouver-based writer and translator Janet Hong, who translated  Grass  into English. The online ceremony is free and open to the public.

“I am very moved and honored to hear that my book ‘Grass’ has been awarded the Krause Prize,” Ms. Gendry-Kim said. “This Prize means a lot to me. I gain much more than a personal satisfaction from it. This honor… will help oppressed women’s voices—whom I defend here—be heard. I hope you will receive my book as a voice on the women and the weak’s behalf. That’s why I started drawing and writing comics and why I keep doing so. I sincerely thank the jury for supporting my book with this prize.”

Made possible by the Kyle J. and Sharon Krause Family Foundation, and run by The Nonfiction Writing Program, the Krause Essay Prize is awarded annually to the work that best exemplifies the art of essaying. For more information about the Krause Essay Prize, visit  https://krauseessayprize.org/ . To register for the online event, please email [email protected].

Keum Suk Gendry-Kim

• Current Winner
• Past Winners
• Current Nominees
• Past Nominees
• The 10 Great Essays

• Share full article

When Prison and Mental Illness Amount to a Death Sentence

The downward spiral of one inmate, Markus Johnson, shows the larger failures of the nation’s prisons to care for the mentally ill.

Supported by

By Glenn Thrush

Photographs by Carlos Javier Ortiz

Glenn Thrush spent more than a year reporting this article, interviewing close to 50 people and reviewing court-obtained body-camera footage and more than 1,500 pages of documents.

• Published May 5, 2024 Updated May 7, 2024

Markus Johnson slumped naked against the wall of his cell, skin flecked with pepper spray, his face a mask of puzzlement, exhaustion and resignation. Four men in black tactical gear pinned him, his face to the concrete, to cuff his hands behind his back.

He did not resist. He couldn’t. He was so gravely dehydrated he would be dead by their next shift change.

Listen to this article with reporter commentary

“I didn’t do anything,” Mr. Johnson moaned as they pressed a shield between his shoulders.

It was 1:19 p.m. on Sept. 6, 2019, in the Danville Correctional Center, a medium-security prison a few hours south of Chicago. Mr. Johnson, 21 and serving a short sentence for gun possession, was in the throes of a mental collapse that had gone largely untreated, but hardly unwatched.

He had entered in good health, with hopes of using the time to gain work skills. But for the previous three weeks, Mr. Johnson, who suffered from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, had refused to eat or take his medication. Most dangerous of all, he had stealthily stopped drinking water, hastening the physical collapse that often accompanies full-scale mental crises.

Mr. Johnson’s horrific downward spiral, which has not been previously reported, represents the larger failures of the nation’s prisons to care for the mentally ill. Many seriously ill people receive no treatment . For those who do, the outcome is often determined by the vigilance and commitment of individual supervisors and frontline staff, which vary greatly from system to system, prison to prison, and even shift to shift.

The country’s jails and prisons have become its largest provider of inpatient mental health treatment, with 10 times as many seriously mentally ill people now held behind bars as in hospitals. Estimating the population of incarcerated people with major psychological problems is difficult, but the number is likely 200,000 to 300,000, experts say.

Many of these institutions remain ill-equipped to handle such a task, and the burden often falls on prison staff and health care personnel who struggle with the dual roles of jailer and caregiver in a high-stress, dangerous, often dehumanizing environment.

In 2021, Joshua McLemore , a 29-year-old with schizophrenia held for weeks in an isolation cell in Jackson County, Ind., died of organ failure resulting from a “refusal to eat or drink,” according to an autopsy. In April, New York City agreed to pay $28 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the family of Nicholas Feliciano, a young man with a history of mental illness who suffered severe brain damage after attempting to hang himself on Rikers Island — as correctional officers stood by.

Mr. Johnson’s mother has filed a wrongful-death suit against the state and Wexford Health Sources, a for-profit health care contractor in Illinois prisons. The New York Times reviewed more than 1,500 pages of reports, along with depositions taken from those involved. Together, they reveal a cascade of missteps, missed opportunities, potential breaches of protocol and, at times, lapses in common sense.

Prison officials and Wexford staff took few steps to intervene even after it became clear that Mr. Johnson, who had been hospitalized repeatedly for similar episodes and recovered, had refused to take medication. Most notably, they did not transfer him to a state prison facility that provides more intensive mental health treatment than is available at regular prisons, records show.

The quality of medical care was also questionable, said Mr. Johnson’s lawyers, Sarah Grady and Howard Kaplan, a married legal team in Chicago. Mr. Johnson lost 50 to 60 pounds during three weeks in solitary confinement, but officials did not initiate interventions like intravenous feedings or transfer him to a non-prison hospital.

And they did not take the most basic step — dialing 911 — until it was too late.

There have been many attempts to improve the quality of mental health treatment in jails and prisons by putting care on par with punishment — including a major effort in Chicago . But improvements have proved difficult to enact and harder to sustain, hampered by funding and staffing shortages.

Lawyers representing the state corrections department, Wexford and staff members who worked at Danville declined to comment on Mr. Johnson’s death, citing the unresolved litigation. In their interviews with state police investigators, and in depositions, employees defended their professionalism and adherence to procedure, while citing problems with high staff turnover, difficult work conditions, limited resources and shortcomings of co-workers.

But some expressed a sense of resignation about the fate of Mr. Johnson and others like him.

Prisoners have “much better chances in a hospital, but that’s not their situation,” said a senior member of Wexford’s health care team in a deposition.

“I didn’t put them in prison,” he added. “They are in there for a reason.”

Markus Mison Johnson was born on March 1, 1998, to a mother who believed she was not capable of caring for him.

Days after his birth, he was taken in by Lisa Barker Johnson, a foster mother in her 30s who lived in Zion, Ill., a working-class city halfway between Chicago and Milwaukee. Markus eventually became one of four children she adopted from different families.

The Johnson house is a lively split level, with nieces, nephews, grandchildren and neighbors’ children, family keepsakes, video screens and juice boxes. Ms. Johnson sits at its center on a kitchen chair, chin resting on her hand as children wander over to share their thoughts, or to tug on her T-shirt to ask her to be their bathroom buddy.

From the start, her bond with Markus was particularly powerful, in part because the two looked so much alike, with distinctive dimpled smiles. Many neighbors assumed he was her biological son. The middle name she chose for him was intended to convey that message.

“Mison is short for ‘my son,’” she said standing over his modest footstone grave last summer.

He was happy at home. School was different. His grades were good, but he was intensely shy and was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in elementary school.

That was around the time the bullying began. His sisters were fierce defenders, but they could only do so much. He did the best he could, developing a quick, taunting tongue.

These experiences filled him with a powerful yearning to fit in.

It was not to be.

When he was around 15, he called 911 in a panic, telling the dispatcher he saw two men standing near the small park next to his house threatening to abduct children playing there. The officers who responded found nothing out of the ordinary, and rang the Johnsons’ doorbell.

He later told his mother he had heard a voice telling him to “protect the kids.”

He was hospitalized for the first time at 16, and given medications that stabilized him for stretches of time. But the crises would strike every six months or so, often triggered by his decision to stop taking his medication.

His family became adept at reading signs he was “getting sick.” He would put on his tan Timberlands and a heavy winter coat, no matter the season, and perch on the edge of his bed as if bracing for battle. Sometimes, he would cook his own food, paranoid that someone might poison him.

He graduated six months early, on the dean’s list, but was rudderless, and hanging out with younger boys, often paying their way.

His mother pointed out the perils of buying friendship.

“I don’t care,” he said. “At least I’ll be popular for a minute.”

Zion’s inviting green grid of Bible-named streets belies the reality that it is a rough, unforgiving place to grow up. Family members say Markus wanted desperately to prove he was tough, and emulated his younger, reckless group of friends.

Like many of them, he obtained a pistol. He used it to hold up a convenience store clerk for $425 in January 2017, according to police records. He cut a plea deal for two years of probation, and never explained to his family what had made him do it.

But he kept getting into violent confrontations. In late July 2018, he was arrested in a neighbor’s garage with a handgun he later admitted was his. He was still on probation for the robbery, and his public defender negotiated a plea deal that would send him to state prison until January 2020.

An inpatient mental health system

Around 40 percent of the about 1.8 million people in local, state and federal jails and prison suffer from at least one mental illness, and many of these people have concurrent issues with substance abuse, according to recent Justice Department estimates.

Psychological problems, often exacerbated by drug use, often lead to significant medical problems resulting from a lack of hygiene or access to good health care.

“When you suffer depression in the outside world, it’s hard to concentrate, you have reduced energy, your sleep is disrupted, you have a very gloomy outlook, so you stop taking care of yourself,” said Robert L. Trestman , a Virginia Tech medical school professor who has worked on state prison mental health reforms.

The paradox is that prison is often the only place where sick people have access to even minimal care.

But the harsh work environment, remote location of many prisons, and low pay have led to severe shortages of corrections staff and the unwillingness of doctors, nurses and counselors to work with the incarcerated mentally ill.

In the early 2000s, prisoners’ rights lawyers filed a class-action lawsuit against Illinois claiming “deliberate indifference” to the plight of about 5,000 mentally ill prisoners locked in segregated units and denied treatment and medication.

In 2014, the parties reached a settlement that included minimum staffing mandates, revamped screening protocols, restrictions on the use of solitary confinement and the allocation of about $100 million to double capacity in the system’s specialized mental health units.

Yet within six months of the deal, Pablo Stewart, an independent monitor chosen to oversee its enforcement, declared the system to be in a state of emergency.

Over the years, some significant improvements have been made. But Dr. Stewart’s final report , drafted in 2022, gave the system failing marks for its medication and staffing policies and reliance on solitary confinement “crisis watch” cells.

Ms. Grady, one of Mr. Johnson’s lawyers, cited an additional problem: a lack of coordination between corrections staff and Wexford’s professionals, beyond dutifully filling out dozens of mandated status reports.

“Markus Johnson was basically documented to death,” she said.

‘I’m just trying to keep my head up’

Mr. Johnson was not exactly looking forward to prison. But he saw it as an opportunity to learn a trade so he could start a family when he got out.

On Dec. 18, 2018, he arrived at a processing center in Joliet, where he sat for an intake interview. He was coherent and cooperative, well-groomed and maintained eye contact. He was taking his medication, not suicidal and had a hearty appetite. He was listed as 5 feet 6 inches tall and 256 pounds.

Mr. Johnson described his mood as “go with the flow.”

A few days later, after arriving in Danville, he offered a less settled assessment during a telehealth visit with a Wexford psychiatrist, Dr. Nitin Thapar. Mr. Johnson admitted to being plagued by feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness and “constant uncontrollable worrying” that affected his sleep.

He told Dr. Thapar he had heard voices in the past — but not now — telling him he was a failure, and warning that people were out to get him.

At the time he was incarcerated, the basic options for mentally ill people in Illinois prisons included placement in the general population or transfer to a special residential treatment program at the Dixon Correctional Center, west of Chicago. Mr. Johnson seemed out of immediate danger, so he was assigned to a standard two-man cell in the prison’s general population, with regular mental health counseling and medication.

Things started off well enough. “I’m just trying to keep my head up,” he wrote to his mother. “Every day I learn to be stronger & stronger.”

But his daily phone calls back home hinted at friction with other inmates. And there was not much for him to do after being turned down for a janitorial training program.

Then, in the spring of 2019, his grandmother died, sending him into a deep hole.

Dr. Thapar prescribed a new drug used to treat major depressive disorders. Its most common side effect is weight gain. Mr. Johnson stopped taking it.

On July 4, he told Dr. Thapar matter-of-factly during a telehealth check-in that he was no longer taking any of his medications. “I’ve been feeling normal, I guess,” he said. “I feel like I don’t need the medication anymore.”

Dr. Thapar said he thought that was a mistake, but accepted the decision and removed Mr. Johnson from his regular mental health caseload — instructing him to “reach out” if he needed help, records show.

The pace of calls back home slackened. Mr. Johnson spent more time in bed, and became more surly. At a group-therapy session, he sat stone silent, after showing up late.

By early August, he was telling guards he had stopped eating.

At some point, no one knows when, he had intermittently stopped drinking fluids.

‘I’m having a breakdown’

Then came the crash.

On Aug. 12, Mr. Johnson got into a fight with his older cellmate.

He was taken to a one-man disciplinary cell. A few hours later, Wexford’s on-site mental health counselor, Melanie Easton, was shocked by his disoriented condition. Mr. Johnson stared blankly, then burst into tears when asked if he had “suffered a loss in the previous six months.”

He was so unresponsive to her questions she could not finish the evaluation.

Ms. Easton ordered that he be moved to a 9-foot by 8-foot crisis cell — solitary confinement with enhanced monitoring. At this moment, a supervisor could have ticked the box for “residential treatment” on a form to transfer him to Dixon. That did not happen, according to records and depositions.

Around this time, he asked to be placed back on his medication but nothing seems to have come of it, records show.

By mid-August, he said he was visualizing “people that were not there,” according to case notes. At first, he was acting more aggressively, once flicking water at a guard through a hole in his cell door. But his energy ebbed, and he gradually migrated downward — from standing to bunk to floor.

“I’m having a breakdown,” he confided to a Wexford employee.

At the time, inmates in Illinois were required to declare an official hunger strike before prison officials would initiate protocols, including blood testing or forced feedings. But when a guard asked Mr. Johnson why he would not eat, he said he was “fasting,” as opposed to starving himself, and no action seems to have been taken.

‘Tell me this is OK!’

Lt. Matthew Morrison, one of the few people at Danville to take a personal interest in Mr. Johnson, reported seeing a white rind around his mouth in early September. He told other staff members the cell gave off “a death smell,” according to a deposition.

On Sept. 5, they moved Mr. Johnson to one of six cells adjacent to the prison’s small, bare-bones infirmary. Prison officials finally placed him on the official hunger strike protocol without his consent.

Mr. Morrison, in his deposition, said he was troubled by the inaction of the Wexford staff, and the lack of urgency exhibited by the medical director, Dr. Justin Young.

On Sept. 5, Mr. Morrison approached Dr. Young to express his concerns, and the doctor agreed to order blood and urine tests. But Dr. Young lived in Chicago, and was on site at the prison about four times a week, according to Mr. Kaplan. Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, was not one of those days.

Mr. Morrison arrived at work that morning, expecting to find Mr. Johnson’s testing underway. A Wexford nurse told him Dr. Young believed the tests could wait.

Mr. Morrison, stunned, asked her to call Dr. Young.

“He’s good till Monday,” Dr. Young responded, according to Mr. Morrison.

“Come on, come on, look at this guy! You tell me this is OK!” the officer responded.

Eventually, Justin Duprey, a licensed nurse practitioner and the most senior Wexford employee on duty that day, authorized the test himself.

Mr. Morrison, thinking he had averted a disaster, entered the cell and implored Mr. Johnson into taking the tests. He refused.

So prison officials obtained approval to remove him forcibly from his cell.

‘Oh, my God’

What happened next is documented in video taken from cameras held by officers on the extraction team and obtained by The Times through a court order.

Mr. Johnson is scarcely recognizable as the neatly groomed 21-year-old captured in a cellphone picture a few months earlier. His skin is ashen, eyes fixed on the middle distance. He might be 40. Or 60.

At first, he places his hands forward through the hole in his cell door to be cuffed. This is against procedure, the officers shout. His hands must be in back.

He will not, or cannot, comply. He wanders to the rear of his cell and falls hard. Two blasts of pepper spray barely elicit a reaction. The leader of the tactical team later said he found it unusual and unnerving.

The next video is in the medical unit. A shield is pressed to his chest. He is in agony, begging for them to stop, as two nurses attempt to insert a catheter.

Then they move him, half-conscious and limp, onto a wheelchair for the blood draw.

For the next 20 minutes, the Wexford nurse performing the procedure, Angelica Wachtor, jabs hands and arms to find a vessel that will hold shape. She winces with each puncture, tries to comfort him, and grows increasingly rattled.

“Oh, my God,” she mutters, and asks why help is not on the way.

She did not request assistance or discuss calling 911, records indicate.

“Can you please stop — it’s burning real bad,” Mr. Johnson said.

Soon after, a member of the tactical team reminds Ms. Wachtor to take Mr. Johnson’s vitals before taking him back to his cell. She would later tell Dr. Young she had been unable to able to obtain his blood pressure.

“You good?” one of the team members asks as they are preparing to leave.

“Yeah, I’ll have to be,” she replies in the recording.

Officers lifted him back onto his bunk, leaving him unconscious and naked except for a covering draped over his groin. His expressionless face is visible through the window on the cell door as it closes.

‘Cardiac arrest.’

Mr. Duprey, the nurse practitioner, had been sitting inside his office after corrections staff ordered him to shelter for his own protection, he said. When he emerged, he found Ms. Wachtor sobbing, and after a delay, he was let into the cell. Finding no pulse, Mr. Duprey asked a prison employee to call 911 so Mr. Johnson could be taken to a local emergency room.

The Wexford staff initiated CPR. It did not work.

At 3:38 p.m., the paramedics declared Markus Mison Johnson dead.

Afterward, a senior official at Danville called the Johnson family to say he had died of “cardiac arrest.”

Lisa Johnson pressed for more information, but none was initially forthcoming. She would soon receive a box hastily crammed with his possessions: uneaten snacks, notebooks, an inspirational memoir by a man who had served 20 years at Leavenworth.

Later, Shiping Bao, the coroner who examined his body, determined Mr. Johnson had died of severe dehydration. He told the state police it “was one of the driest bodies he had ever seen.”

For a long time, Ms. Johnson blamed herself. She says that her biggest mistake was assuming that the state, with all its resources, would provide a level of care comparable to what she had been able to provide her son.

She had stopped accepting foster care children while she was raising Markus and his siblings. But as the months dragged on, she decided her once-boisterous house had become oppressively still, and let local agencies know she was available again.

“It is good to have children around,” she said. “It was too quiet around here.”

Read by Glenn Thrush

Audio produced by Jack D’Isidoro .

Glenn Thrush covers the Department of Justice. He joined The Times in 2017 after working for Politico, Newsday, Bloomberg News, The New York Daily News, The Birmingham Post-Herald and City Limits. More about Glenn Thrush

Advertisement