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 (Labill.) Warb. ex K.Schum. & Lauterb. – China, Japan, Southeast Asia, Pacific Islands
Miscanthus fuscus (Roxb.) Benth. – Indian subcontinent, Indochina, Pen Malaysia
Miscanthus × longiberbis (Hack.) Nakai – 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 (Maxim.) Benth. & Hook.f. ex Franch. – Korea, Japan, northeastern China, Russian Far East
Miscanthus sinensis Andersson – 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 T.I.Heo & J.S.Kim – Korea
Several species formerly placed in genus Miscanthus are now placed in other genera, including Chloris, Miscanthidium, Pseudopogonatherum, Saccharum, and Spodiopogon.
