Saccharum is a genus of tall perennial plants of the broomsedge tribe within the grass family.
The genus is widespread across tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions in Africa, Eurasia, Australia, the Americas, and assorted oceanic islands. Several species are cultivated and naturalized in areas outside their native habitats.
Saccharum includes the sugarcanes. They have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are generally rich in sugar, and measure two to six m (6 to 19 ft) tall. All sugarcane species interbreed and the major commercial cultivars are complex hybrids.
Species
As of September 2021, Plants of the World Online accepted the following species:
Saccharum alopecuroidum (L.) Nutt. - southeastern USA
Saccharum angustifolium (Nees) Trin. - South America
Saccharum asperum (Nees) Steud. - South America
Saccharum baldwinii Spreng. - southeastern USA
Saccharum beccarii (Stapf) Cope - Sumatra
Saccharum brevibarbe (Michx.) Pers. - southeastern USA
Saccharum coarctatum (Fern.) R. Webster - southeastern USA
Saccharum contortum (Baldwin ex Elliott) Nutt. - southeastern USA
Saccharum fallax Balansa - China, Assam, southeast Asia
Saccharum filifolium Steud. - Afghanistan, Himalayas
Saccharum formosanum (Stapf) Ohwi - southern China
Saccharum giganteum (Walt.) Pers. - southeastern USA, Cuba, Jamaica, Paraguay, Argentina
Saccharum griffithii Munro ex Aitch. - from Yemen to Bangladesh
Saccharum intermedium Welker & Peichoto
Saccharum kajkaiense (Melderis) Melderis - Oman, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan
Saccharum longesetosum (Andersson) V.Naray. ex Bor - China, Himalayas, Indochina
Saccharum maximum (Brongn.) Trin. - Pacific Islands
Saccharum narenga (Nees ex Steud.) Hack. - China, Indian Subcontinent, Indochina, Ethiopia
Saccharum officinarum L. - New Guinea; naturalized in many warm places
Saccharum robustum Brandes & Jesw. ex Grassl - New Guinea
Saccharum rufipilum Steud. - China, Indian Subcontinent, Indochina
Saccharum sikkimense (Hook.f.) V.Naray. ex...
