Grassa

Grassa is a grain which was domesticated by the Berini and it was the staple food grain in the Berini Empire before they got wheat, barley and oats through trade with the people of the East Hu-Balai.

Basic Information

Anatomy

A cereal grain that grows to about 2 meters tall, has four large seed things (like wheat) at the top that each one of them can contain up to 100 seeds the size of corn kernels. The stalk is rather thin looking but strong and it becomes like thick coarse straw once the seeds ripen.

Growth Rate & Stages

The seeds sprout in early winter, the plants grow throughout the winter and flower in early spring. The seeds ripen by early summer. The whole process lasts around 5 months.

Ecology and Habitats

This plant comes from a subtropical environment with cool rainy winters which last around 4 months, 1 month long springs, 6 month long summers and 1 month long falls. The falls and springs are more like transitional periods.
Grassa requires quite a lot of water (more than wheat) and a lot nutrients. It grows near rivers and needs lots of sunlight.

Additional Information

Domestication

In domestication the seed things got larger and contained larger seeds in larger quantities. The trait where the seeds fall out easily once they ripen was bred out. The funny taste stayed but was made more subtle.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

It's a grain food staple. It's used to feed livestock as well being made into porridge and cooked or roasted. Once wheat was brought to the Berini Empire, it replaced grassa as the human food staple but stayed as a prominant animal food staple. It's stalks are used for thatch, elephant feed, shoes, boats, baskets, paper and even clothes on occasion.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

North Rashini, mainly the Berinus basin and the Pre-Berinus basin.

Origin/Ancestry

North Rashini

Lifespan

Around 5 months

Conservation Status

Domesticated, least concern.

Average Height

~2 meters