The
Poaceae (English pronunciation: ) (also called
Gramineae or
true grasses) are a large and nearly ubiquitous
family of
monocotyledonous flowering plants. With more than
10,000 domesticated and wild species, the Poaceae are the fifth-largest , following the
Asteraceae,
Orchidaceae,
Fabaceae, and
Rubiaceae. Though commonly called "grasses",
seagrasses,
rushes, and
sedges fall outside this family. The rushes and sedges are related to the Poaceae, being members of the
order Poales, but the seagrasses are members of order
Alismatales.