The Poales are the most economically important order of monocots and possibly the most important order of plants in general. Within the order, by far the most important family economically is the family of grasses (Poaceae, syn. Gramineae), which includes the starch staples barley, maize, millet, rice, and wheat as well as bamboos (mostly used structurally, like wood, but somewhat as vegetables), and a few "seasonings" like sugarcane and lemongrass. Graminoids, especially the grasses, are typically dominant in open (low moisture but not yet arid, or also fire climax) habitats like prairie/steppe and savannah and thus form a large proportion of the forage of grazing livestock. Possibly due to pastoral nostalgia or simply a desire for open areas for play, they dominate most Western yards as lawns, which consume vast sums of money in upkeep (artificial grazing—mowing—for aesthetics and to keep the allergenic flowers suppressed, irrigation, and fertilizer). Many Bromeliaceae are used as ornamental plants (and one, the pineapple, is internationally grown in the tropics for fruit). Many wetland species of sedges, rushes, grasses, and cattails are important habitat plants for waterfowl, are used in weaving chair seats, and (especially cattails) were important pre-agricultural food sources for man. Two sedges, chufa (Cyperus esculentus, also a significant weed) and water chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis) are still at least locally important wetland starchy root crops.
The Poales are the most economically important order of monocots and possibly the most important order of plants in general Within the order by far the most important family economically is the family of grasses (Poaceae syn Gramineae) which includes the starch staples barley maize millet rice and wheat as well as bamboos (mostly used structurally like wood but somewhat as vegetables) and a few "seasonings" like sugarcane and lemongrass Graminoids especially the grasses are typically dominant in open (low moisture but not yet arid or also fire climax) habitats like prairie/steppe and savannah and thus form a large proportion of the forage of grazing livestock Possibly due to pastoral nostalgia or simply a desire for open areas for play they dominate most Western yards as lawns which consume vast sums of money in upkeep (artificial grazing—mowing—for aesthetics and to keep the allergenic flowers suppressed irrigation and fertilizer) Many Bromeliaceae are used as ornamental plants (and one the pineapple is internationally grown in the tropics for fruit) Many wetland species of sedges rushes grasses and cattails are important habitat plants for waterfowl are used in weaving chair seats and (especially cattails) were important pre-agricultural food sources for man Two sedges chufa (Cyperus esculentus also a significant weed) and water chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis) are still at least locally important wetland starchy root crops