Miscanthus, or silvergrass, is a genus of African, Eurasian, and Pacific Island plants in the grass family, Poaceae. The name is derived from the Greek words "miskos", meaning "stem", and "anthos", meaning "flower", in reference to the stalked spikelets on plants of this genus. Several species are known for their height and biomass production, and may be used as ornamental grasses.

Species

14 species are accepted.

• 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 × longiberbis – northeastern China, Korea, and Japan

• Miscanthus lutarioriparius L.Liu ex S.L.Chen & Renvoize – Hubei, Hunan

• Miscanthus nepalensis (Trin.) Hack. – Indian Subcontinent, Tibet, Yunnan, Myanmar, Vietnam, Peninsular Malaysia

• Miscanthus nudipes (Griseb.) Hack. – Assam, Bhutan, Nepal, Sikkim, Tibet, Yunnan

• 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 wangpicheonensis – Korea

Former species

Several species formerly placed in genus Miscanthus are now placed in other genera, including Chloris, Miscanthidium, Pseudopogonatherum, Saccharum, and Spodiopogon.

• Miscanthus affinis – Pseudopogonatherum quadrinerve

• Miscanthus cotulifer – Spodiopogon cotulifer

• Miscanthus junceus – Miscanthidium junceum

• Miscanthus polydactylos – Stapfochloa elata

• Miscanthus rufipilus – Saccharum rufipilum

• Miscanthus tanakae – Pseudopogonatherum speciosum

• Miscanthus violaceus (K.Schum.) Pilg. – Miscanthidium violaceum

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) is a highly productive, rhizomatous C4 perennial grass, originating from Asia. 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. 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. In a 2025 research dried stems of Miscanthus giganteus, together with other materials, were used to create a biobased concrete substitute called Xiriton, which offers a low-carbon, eco-friendly material that can support shellfish settlement and salt-marsh restoration.

References

External links

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

• - Miscanthus Research at the University of Illinois