grassland

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grassland Ground covered by vegetation that is dominated by grasses. Grassland constitutes a major world vegetation type and occurs where there is sufficient moisture for grass growth, but where the environmental conditions, both climatic and anthropogenic, prevent tree growth. Its occurrence therefore correlates with a rainfall intensity between that of desert and that of forest, and the range of grassland is extended by grazing and/or fire to form a plagioclimax in many areas that were previously forested. The extensive mid-latitude grassland is known as steppe or prairie, whereas the corresponding tropical vegetation is called savannah.

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