Amur silvergrass
Miscanthus floridulus
Family: Poaceae
What it is like
A coarse erect grass 1 to 3 m high. It spreads 1.5 m wide. It keeps growing from year to year. It spreads to 1 m wide. The stems are erect, slender and flowering. The leaves are pale green and fine. They form clumps and curve over. The leaves can be 90 cm long and have silver midribs. The flowers are tiny and dark brown to green. They occur in erect shoots at the end of the stalk. Flowers are not produced in cooler places.
There are about 20 Miscanthus species.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It will grow on most soils. It needs an open sunny position. It is damaged by drought but can tolerate frost. When repeated fires occur, this grass frequently occupies an area to the almost entire exclusion of other vegetation. It occurs in abundance at medium and high altitudes especially in the Mountain Province of Luzon in the Philippines. It suits hardiness zones 6-9. In Sichuan and Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
American Samoa, Asia, Australia, China, Fiji, French Polynesia, FSM, Guam, Indochina, Japan, Kosrae, Laos, Mariana Islands, Marquesas, Micronesia, Myanmar, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pohnpei, Rotuma, SE Asia, Taiwan, Tonga
How it is used for food
The unopened flower shoots can be eaten raw.
A very incidental food. It is cultivated.
Edible parts
Shoots, flowers
How it is grown
The plant can be grown by division of the shoots.
Its other names
Local names
Asat, Aset, Bigau, Ene, Kasa, Nete, Mah, Neti, Nette, Sapalang, Thaphut, Tupun-neti