Miscanthus sinensis
| South American Elephant Grass | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| (unranked): | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Subfamily: | Panicoideae |
| Genus: | Miscanthus |
| Species: | M. sinensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Miscanthus sinensis Anderss. |
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Miscanthus sinensis (Chinese silver grass, Eulalia grass, maiden grass, zebra grass, Susuki grass, porcupine grass; syn. Eulalia japonica Trin., Miscanthus sinensis f. glaber Honda, Miscanthus sinensis var. gracillimus Hitchc., Miscanthus sinensis var. variegatus Beal, Miscanthus sinensis var. zebrinus Beal, Saccharum japonicum Thunb.) is a grass native to eastern Asia throughout most of China, Japan, Taiwan, and Korea.
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[edit] Growth
It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 0.8–2 m (rarely 4 m) tall, forming dense clumps from an underground rhizome. The leaves are 18–75 cm tall and 0.3–2 cm broad. The flowers are purplish, held above the foliage.
[edit] Cultivation
It is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions around the world.
It has become an invasive species in parts of North America.[1] However, it is possible to reduce the likelihood of escape or hybridization with extant wild M. sinensis populations with breeding and proper management.[2]
[edit] Cultivars
Several cultivars have been selected, including Stricta with narrow growth habit, Variegata with white margins, and Zebrina with horizontal yellow and green stripes across the leaves.
- Miscanthus sinensis 'Border Bandit'
- M. sinensis 'Dronning Ingrid'
- M. sinensis 'Gracillimus'
- M. sinensis 'Malepartus'
- M. sinensis 'Morning Light'
- M. sinensis 'Variegatus'
- M. sinensis 'Zebrinus'
[edit] Uses
M. sinensis is a candidate for bioenergy production in the United States due to its high yield, even in high stress environments, easy propagation, effective nutrient cycling, and high genetic variation.[3]
[edit] Gallery
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Miscanthus sinensis flower stalks in mid-October, the horizontal variegations are visible on leaves in the lower-right part of the picture.
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Zebra grass with horizontal variegations, mostly a garden plant in Japan
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M. sinensis in Japan
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Magnified view of M. sinensis leaf;
0 to 1 = 1mm; the saw-like edge can cut human skin.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Chinese silvergrass. Invasive.org: Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, February 2, 2010. Accessed May 28, 2010.
- ^ Quinn LD, Allen DJ, Stewart JR (2010) Invasiveness potential of Miscanthus sinensis: implications for bioenergy production in the United States. Global Change Biology Bioenergy. 1-2, 126-153.
- ^ Stewart R, Toma Y, Fernández FG, Nishiwaki A, Yamada T, Bollero G (2009) The ecology and agronomy of “Miscanthus sinensis”, a species important to bioenergy crop development, in its native range in Japan: a review. Global Change Biology Bioenergy. 1-2, 126-153.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Miscanthus sinensis |
