Poales is a large order of flowering plants in the monocotyledons, and includes families of plants such as the grasses, bromeliads, and sedges. Sixteen plant families are currently recognized by botanists to be part of Poales. The earliest fossils attributed to the Polaes dates to the late Cretaceous period about 65.5 million years ago, though some studies (e.g., Bremer, 2002) suggest the origin of the of the group may extend to nearly 115 million years ago, likely in South America. The earliest known fossils include pollen and fruits. The flowers are typically small. The flowers of many species are wind pollinated; the seeds usually contain starch.
