The perennial grasses can be classified as either C3 or C4 plants.

Examples of C4 species are the economically important crops corn or maize (Zea mays), sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), and millets, as well as switchgrass (Panicum virganum) which has been utilized as a source of biofuel.

Some examples of dicotyledonous plants having C4 pathway of photosynthesis are as follows:
Common Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)
Common saltwort (Salsola kali)
Frosted orache (Atriplex laciniata)
Green amaranth (Amaranthus viridis)
Mediterranean saltbush (Atriplex halimus)
South Indian seepweed (Suaeda monoica)