Mostly herbs with fibrous root systems. Many are of economic importance as food Leaves are linear, parallel veins with basal sheath Flowers are numerous spikelets with scales Fruit is caryopsis or grain Grass oils are relatively cheap and used in perfumery esp in scenting soap Bamboos, rice, wheat, barley Alkaloids, saponins, cyanogenic compds, phenolic acids, flavonoids, terpenoids