What features help identify a plant as a member of the Poaceae grass family?

Members of the Poaceae family, commonly known as grasses, can be identified by several distinct morphological and anatomical features:

• Stems: Grass stems, or culms, are typically herbaceous (though sometimes woody in bamboos) and are usually round in cross-section. They are generally hollow except at the nodes. A key feature is their basal growth, where elongation occurs at the base of the stem rather than at the tips.1
• Leaves: Grass leaves are arranged in two vertical ranks (distichous) along the stem. Each leaf consists of a blade and a sheath that encircles the stem. At the junction of the blade and sheath, there is often a small structure called a ligule. The leaf veins run parallel to one another.1
• Reproductive Structures: The primary inflorescence unit is the spikelet, which typically consists of two basal scales called glumes and one or more florets. Each floret is enclosed by two additional scales, the lemma and the palea.1
• Flowers: Grass flowers are highly simplified and adapted for wind-pollination, lacking petals and nectar. Instead, they feature lodicules that swell to open the floret, allowing for the exsertion of anthers and feathery stigmas.1
• Fruits: The fruit, known as a caryopsis or grain, is characterized by a fruit wall that adheres completely to the single seed.1