Grasses

As one might suspect, graminoids (grass-like species) are the dominant vegetation type in tall, mixed and short grass prairie habitats. Though dominant in terms of cover, the diversity of grass species is much lower than forb (wildflower) species. By way of example, the Manitoba Tall Grass Prairie Preserve in southeastern Manitoba has approximately 27 grasses and well over 300 forbs.

Grasses comprise 25 - 100% of the vegetation cover in dry prairies and 75 - 100% of the cover in medium to moist prairies. Forbs, on the other hand, comprise only 5 - 50% cover in any prairie type.