Rank Species | Scientific name Miscanthus sinensis | |
 | ||
Similar Miscanthus, Pampas grass, Grasses, Fountaingrasses, Pennisetum alopecuroides | ||
Miscanthus sinensis morning light morning light japanese silver grass
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.
Contents
- Miscanthus sinensis morning light morning light japanese silver grass
- Miscanthus sinensis gracillimus maiden grass
- Nomenclature
- Forms and varieties
- Cultivation
- Cultivars
- Uses
- Synonyms
- References
Miscanthus sinensis gracillimus maiden grass
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". The qualifier sinensis means "from China", though the plant is found elsewhere in eastern Asia.
Forms and varieties
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. However, it is possible to reduce the likelihood of escape or hybridization with extant wild M. sinensis populations with breeding and proper management.
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.
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.