Agrostology Agrostology Agrostology (from Greek , "agrōstis", "type of grass"; and , "-logia"), sometimes graminology, is the scientific study of the grasses (the family Poaceae, or Gramineae). The grasslike species of the sedge family (Cyperaceae), the rush family (Juncaceae), and the bulrush or cattail family (Typhaceae) are often included with the true grasses in the category of graminoid, although strictly speaking these are not included within the study of agrostology. In contrast to the word graminoid, the words gramineous and graminaceous are normally used to mean "of, or relating to, the true grasses (Poaceae)". Agrostology has importance in the maintenance of
Organisms at high altitude the tree line. The highest-altitude plant species is a moss that grows at on Mount Everest. "Arenaria bryophylla" is the highest flowering plant in the world, occurring as high as . Organisms at high altitude Organisms can live at high altitude, either on land, in water, or while flying. Decreased oxygen availability and decreased temperature make life at such altitudes challenging, though many species have been successfully adapted via considerable physiological changes. As opposed to short-term acclimatisation (immediate physiological response to changing environment), high-altitude adaptation means irreversible, evolved physiological responses to high-altitude environments, associated with heritable behavioural and genetic changes.