Wild pitpit, Wild sugarcane, Thatch grass
Saccharum spontaneum

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A strong clumpy perennial grass. It has rhizomes or underground stems. The stalks are upright, hard and slightly thickened at the nodes. They can be 4 m high. The leaves are long (150 cm) and narrow (4 cm) with fine teeth on the edge. The leaves are flat. The flowers at the tip are like feathers.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands from sea level up to at least 1650 m. It is often common in areas with a strongly seasonal rainfall and in grassland areas. It grows in areas with a rainfall above 1,500 mm. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Algeria, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central America, Central Asia, Chad, China, Congo, Cuba, Cyprus, East Africa, East Timor, Egypt, Ethiopia, Europe, FSM, Ghana, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kosrae, Laos, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mariana Islands, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Micronesia, Middle East, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, North Africa, Northeastern India, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pohnpei, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tibet, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Yemen

How it is used for food

The very young flower shoots are eaten raw or cooked. They are also used in chutney. The peeled rhizome is sweet and is chewed. Ash from the burnt plant is used as a salt substitute. The seeds are eaten in Uganda.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Shoots, rhizome, root, seeds, vegetable, cereal, stem

How it is grown

Plants are mostly grown by dividing up the old clump.

Its other names

Local names

Abookin kibiyaa, Kadukabbu, Kaing, Kans, Kas, Kasa, Kashia danda, Keshur, Khagori, Kyan-sein-gale, Lao, Maqesha, Mojora, Oi-nu, Piko-pimur, Pira tobu, Tebu hitam, Teppi, Thekke-gyi

Synonyms

Imperata spontanea (Linn.) P. Beauv.; Saccharum canaliculatum Roxb.; Saccharum palisotii Tausch; Saccharum propinquum Steud.; Saccharum semidecumbens Roxb.;