Miscanthus

''Miscanthus'', or silvergrass, is a genus of African, Eurasian, and Pacific Island plants in the grass family, Poaceae.

; Species
* '' Miscanthus changii'' Y.N.Lee – Korea
* '' Miscanthus depauperatus'' Merr. – the Philippines
* '' Miscanthus ecklonii'' (Nees) Mabb. – southern Africa
* ''Miscanthus floridulus'' – China, Japan, Southeast Asia, Pacific Islands
* '' Miscanthus fuscus'' (Roxb.) Benth. – Indian Subcontinent, Indochina, Pen Malaysia
* '' Miscanthus junceus'' – southern Africa
* ''Miscanthus lutarioriparius'' L.Liu ex S.L.Chen & Renvoize – Hubei, Hunan
* ''Miscanthus nepalensis'' (Trin.) Hack. – Indian Subcontinent, Tibet, Yunnan, Myanmar, Vietnam, Pen Malaysia
* ''Miscanthus nudipes'' (Griseb.) Hack. – Assam, Bhutan, Nepal, Sikkim, Tibet, Yunnan
* '' Miscanthus × ogiformis'' Honda – Korea, Japan
* ''Miscanthus oligostachyus'' Stapf. – Korea, Japan
* '' Miscanthus paniculatus'' (B.S.Sun) S.L.Chen & Renvoize – Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan
* ''Miscanthus sacchariflorus'' – Korea, Japan, northeastern China, Russian Far East
* ''Miscanthus sinensis'' – Korea, Japan, China, Southeast Asia, Russian Far East; naturalized in New Zealand, North America, South America
* '' Miscanthus tinctorius'' (Steud.) Hack. – Japan
* '' Miscanthus villosus'' Y.C.Liu & H.Peng – Yunnan
* '' Miscanthus violaceus'' (K.Schum.) Pilg. – tropical Africa

; formerly included
see ''Chloris, Pseudopogonatherum, Saccharum'', and ''Spodiopogon''
* ''Miscanthus affinis – Pseudopogonatherum quadrinerve''
* ''Miscanthus cotulifer – Spodiopogon cotulifer''
* ''Miscanthus polydactylos – Chloris elata''
* ''Miscanthus rufipilus – Saccharum rufipilum''
* ''Miscanthus tanakae – Pseudopogonatherum speciosum''

Physiology

A wide variety in cold tolerance occurs in the genus. ''M.'' × ''giganteus'' is especially vulnerable to cold, and a cultivar of ''M. sinensis'' has the best known cold tolerance.

''Miscanthus sinensis''

''M. sinensis'' is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant, and is the source of several cultivars. In Japan, where it is known as ''susuki'' (すすき), it is considered an iconic plant of late summer and early autumn. It is mentioned in the ''Man'yōshū'' (VIII:1538) as one of the seven autumn flowers (''aki no nana kusa'', 秋の七草). It is used for the eighth month in ''hanafuda'' playing cards. It is decorated with bush clover for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Miscanthus has also excellent fiber properties for papermaking.

''Miscanthus'' × ''giganteus''

''Miscanthus'' × ''giganteus'' (''Miscanthus giganteus'', giant miscanthus)p.71, "Recent classification work at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, England has designated it as ''M.'' x ''giganteus'' �� a hybrid of ''M. sinensis'' ��and ''M. sacchariflorus'' �� is a highly productive, rhizomatous C4 perennial grass, originating from Asia.p.71, "''M.'' × ''giganteus'' is a highly productive, sterile, rhizomatous C4 perennial grass that was collected in Yokahama, Japan, in 1935 by Aksel Olsen. It was taken to Denmark, where it was cultivated and spread throughout Europe and into North America for planting in horticultural settings."
It is a sterile (noninvasive) hybrid of ''M. sinensis'' and ''M. sacchariflorus,'' and grows to heights of more than in one growing season (from the third season onwards). In temperate climates such as in Europe, the dry mass yield is per year, depending on location.p.79, "The majority of the literature reporting dry biomass yield for ''M.'' × ''giganteus'' originates from European studies. Ceiling peak biomass yields in established stands of ''M.'' x ''giganteus'' have approached 40 t dry matter (DM) ha⁻¹ in some European locations, although it may take 3–5 years to achieve these ceiling yields 4 Across Europe, harvestable yields of up to 25 t DM ha-1 from established stands of ''M.'' × ''giganteus'' have been reported in areas between central Germany and southern Italy, while peak yields in central and northern Europe have ranged between 10–25 t DM ha-1, and in excess of 30 t DM ha-1 in southern Europe A quantitative review of established ''M.'' × ''giganteus'' stands across Europe reported a mean peak biomass yield of 22 t DM ha-1, averaged across N rates and precipitation levels " Just like '' Pennisetum purpureum'' and ''Saccharum ravennae'' (which grow to the same height), it is also called "elephant grass".

Miscanthus' ability to grow on marginal land and in relatively cold weather conditions, its rapid absorption, its significant carbon sequestration, and its high yield make it a favorite choice as a biofuel.

Miscanthus is mainly used for heat and power, but can also be used as input for ethanol production (if harvested wet). If harvested dry, it can be burnt directly in biomass boilers, or processed further (pellets, briquettes). It can also be used as a "green" building material, for both wall construction and as general insulation. An experimental house based on ''Miscanthus'' straw bales was built in 2017. Miscanthus cropping enhances nutrient cycling in the plant–soil system.

References

*

External links

UK's National Centre for Biorenewable Energy, Fuels and Materials

''Miscanthus'' × ''giganteus'' - as an energy crop
- Miscanthus Research at the University of Illinois

{{Taxonbar, from=Q131542

Grasses of Africa
Grasses of Asia
Energy crops
Poaceae genera