Miscanthus sinensis

Miscanthus sinensis
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 Andersson (1855)

Japanese Susuki of the plateau

Miscanthus sinensis is a species of flowering plant in the grass family Poaceae, native to eastern Asia throughout most of China, Japan, Taiwan and Korea. It is an herbaceous perennial grass, growing to 0.8–2 m (3–7 ft) tall, rarely 4 m (13 ft), forming dense clumps from an underground rhizome. The leaves are 18–75 cm (7–30 in) tall and 0.3–2 cm broad. The flowers are purplish, held above the foliage. This plant is the preferred structure for the nesting of some species of paper wasps, such as Ropalidia fasciata.^[1]

Nomenclature

Common names include Chinese silver grass, Eulalia grass, maiden grass, zebra grass, Susuki grass, and porcupine grass. The Latin Miscanthus comes from the Greek for "stalk" and "flower".^[2] The qualifier sinensis means "from China",^[3] though the plant is found elsewhere in eastern Asia.

Forms and varieties

• M. sinensis f. glaber Honda
• M. sinensis var. gracillimus Hitchc.
• M. sinensis var. variegatus Beal
• M. sinensis var. zebrinus Beal

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.^[4] However, it is possible to reduce the likelihood of escape or hybridization with extant wild M. sinensis populations with breeding and proper management.^[5]

Cultivars

Several cultivars have been selected, including 'Strictus' with narrow growth habit, 'Variegata' with white margins, and 'Zebrina' with horizontal yellow and green stripes across the leaves. Those marked agm have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

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  Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus'

• 

  Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictus', Blüte

• 

  Miscanthus sinensis 'Ferner Osten'

• 

  Miscanthus sinensis 'Malepartus', Blüte

Uses

M. sinensis is a candidate for bioenergy production due to its high yield, even in high stress environments, easy propagation, effective nutrient cycling, and high genetic variation.^[22]

Synonyms

• Eulalia japonica Trin.
• Saccharum japonicum Thunb.

Gallery

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  The beginning of November, on Tonomine highlands in Kamikawa, Hyogo, Japan

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  Zebra grass with horizontal variegations, mostly a garden plant in Japan

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  M. sinensis in Japan

• 

  Magnified view of M. sinensis leaf;
  0 to 1 = 1mm; the saw-like edge can cut human skin.

Notes

References

• Miscanthus sinensisFlora of China:
• 'Stricta'Miscanthus sinensisVirginia Cooperative Extension:

External links

• : seasonal/color changeMiscanthus sinensisPhotos of