Manual of Grasses of the United States

work by Hitchcock

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July 16, 2026

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The Manual of Grasses of the United States is a seminal work by botanist Albert Spear Hitchcock. Hitchcock was a leading expert in the taxonomy of grasses worldwide. His extensive travels for the U.S. Department of Agriculture allowed him to amass a vast collection of grass specimens for the National Herbarium.1

This manual, published in 1935, remains a key reference for understanding the grasses found in the United States. Grasses, belonging to the family Poaceae, are vital economically and ecologically, providing food, forage, and habitat. They are characterized by hollow, jointed stems, bladelike leaves, and fibrous root systems.12

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Albert Spear Hitchcock
His most important work, Manual of Grasses of the United States (1935), remains a standard reference.
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His most important work, Manual of Grasses of the United States (1935), remains a standard reference.
Read More