The grass family, known as Poaceae, is probably the most important plant family on earth. Grasses were the first food plants to be cultivated by man. Grass crops, such as maize, wheat, rice and sugarcane are still our most important food source to farm animals and the large herds of grazing animals in the wild. The identification of grasses becomes important during land management as the various grass species differ in their grazing value and other ecological functions. Furthermore, weedy grasses react differently to different herbicides and therefore need to be correctly identified. This title, Guide to grasses of southern Africa, is the most comprehensive colour identification guide to the common grasses of southern Africa and includes, among others, the following features: descriptions and illustrations of the 320 most important grasses in southern Africa, an easy-to-use grass identification key, more than 1 000 excellent photographs in full colour, thirteen short, fully illustrated introductory chapters with general information on grasses, common names of grasses in indigenous languages, icons that enable the reader to obtain certain information at a glance.

Die grasfamilie, bekend as Poaceae, is waarskynlik die belangrikste plantfamilie op aarde. Grasse is die eerste voedselplante wat deur mense aangeplant is. Graangewasse, soos mielies, koring, rys en suikerriet (almal grasse), is steeds ons belangrikste bron van energie. Gras, in die vorm van voer, is ook die belangrikste bron van kos vir vee en die groot kuddes grasvreters in die natuur. Die akkurate identifikasie van grasse raak belangrik tydens veldbestuur aangesien grasse ten opsigte van hul weidingswaarde en ander ekologiese funksies verskil. Verder reageer verskillende onkruidgrasse anders op chemise onkruiddoders en moet daarom akkuraat geidentifiseer word. Hierdie boek, Gids tot Grasse van suider-Afrika, is die omvattendste volkleur identifikasiegids tot die algemene grasse in suider-Afrika en sluit onder meer die volgende kenmerke in: Beskrywings en illustrasies van die 320 belangrikste grasse in suider-Afrika; 'n Gebruikersvriendelike indentifikasiesleutel; Meer as 1 000 uitstekende kleurfoto's; Dertien kort en volledig geillustreerde inleidende hoofstukke oor grasse; Algemene grasname in verskeie inheemse tale; Simbole wat die leser in staat stel om inligting met 'n oogopslag te bekom.