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Why can grasses regrow after being grazed, mowed, or burned?

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wild rice — Poaceae Wild rice (*Zizania aquatica*).

Grasses in the family Poaceae are uniquely adapted to survive and regrow after being grazed, mowed, or burned due to the specific location of their growth tissues.1

In most flowering plants, new growth occurs primarily at the tips of the shoots. If these tips are removed, the plant's growth is typically halted or redirected to secondary buds. In contrast, grasses possess meristems—the regions of active cell division—located at the base of each stem between the leaves. These intercalary meristems are also found at the base of the grass leaf.12

Because these growing points are positioned basally rather than at the tips, they remain protected from damage when the upper portions of the plant are removed by herbivores, fire, or lawnmowers. This allows the plant to continue producing new green shoots rapidly even after the aerial parts have been destroyed.1