Saccharum narenga

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A tall grass. It has a short stout rhizome. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 1-3 m tall. The stems are 5-8 mm across. The leaf blades are 1-1.5 m long by 6-20 mm wide. The flower panicle is narrowly oblong and 20-50 cm long.

Where it is found

It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It grows on open mountain slopes and dry grassy places. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, SE Asia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The flowers (infected with a fungus) are roasted and crushed with molasses and rice and eaten.

Edible parts

Flowers, fungus

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Singhut-kambong

Synonyms

Eriochrysis giordaniana Chiov.; Eriochrysis narenga Nees ex Steud.; Eriochrysis prophyrocoma Hance; Narenga porphyrocoma (Hance) Bor; Saccharum narenga var. khasianum Hack.; Saccharum porphyrocoma var. khasianum Hack.; Saccharum porphyrocoma (Hance) Hack.; Sclerostachya narenga (Nees ex Steud.) Grassl.