Ruohomaisia

Ruohomaisia is a Finnish growth-form term used in botany to describe herbaceous, grass-like plants. It is not a taxonomic group, but a functional category that includes many species with a non-woody habit, especially those resembling grasses in form and life cycle.

Most ruohomaisia have soft, non-lignified stems and leaves that are narrow with parallel veins. They often grow in clumps or tussocks and may spread by rhizomes or stolons. Flowers are typically small and arranged in spikelets or panicles.

Habitats include meadows, grasslands, wetlands, boreal and temperate ecosystems, as well as disturbed sites. They contribute to soil stabilization, nutrient cycling, and provide habitat for fauna. They are common in Nordic flora and are important for forage and horticulture.

The term groups species from several families, chiefly Poaceae, Cyperaceae, and Juncaceae, as well as many other herbaceous plants with a grass-like appearance. It is widely used in field guides and ecological surveys.

Examples include species in Poaceae (grasses), Cyperaceae (sedges) and Juncaceae (rushes), such as Calamagrostis, Festuca, Carex and Juncus.