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
, Plants of the World Online accepted the following species:
- Saccharum alopecuroidum <small>(L.) Nutt.</small> - southeastern USA
- Saccharum angustifolium <small>(Nees) Trin.</small> - South America
- Saccharum asperum <small>(Nees) Steud.</small> - South America
- Saccharum baldwinii <small>Spreng.</small> - southeastern USA
- Saccharum beccarii <small>(Stapf) Cope</small> - Sumatra
- Saccharum brevibarbe <small>(Michx.) Pers.</small> - southeastern USA
- Saccharum coarctatum <small>(Fern.) R. Webster</small> - southeastern USA
- Saccharum contortum <small>(Baldwin ex Elliott) Nutt.</small> - southeastern USA
- Saccharum fallax <small>Balansa</small> - China, Assam, southeast Asia
- Saccharum filifolium <small>Steud.</small> - Afghanistan, Himalayas
- Saccharum formosanum <small>(Stapf) Ohwi</small> - southern China
- Saccharum giganteum <small>(Walt.) Pers.</small> - southeastern USA, Cuba, Jamaica, Paraguay, Argentina
- Saccharum griffithii <small>Munro ex Aitch.</small> - from Yemen to Bangladesh
- Saccharum intermedium <small>Welker & Peichoto</small>
- Saccharum kajkaiense <small>(Melderis) Melderis</small> - Oman, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan
- Saccharum longesetosum <small>(Andersson) V.Naray. ex Bor</small> - China, Himalayas, Indochina
- Saccharum maximum <small>(Brongn.) Trin.</small> - Pacific Islands
- Saccharum narenga <small>(Nees ex Steud.) Hack.</small> - China, Indian Subcontinent, Indochina, Ethiopia
- Saccharum officinarum <small>L.</small> - New Guinea; naturalized in many warm places
- Saccharum robustum <small>Brandes & Jesw. ex Grassl</small> - New Guinea
- Saccharum rufipilum <small>Steud.</small> - China, Indian Subcontinent, Indochina
- Saccharum sikkimense (<small>Hook.f.) V.Naray. ex Bor</small> - eastern Himalayas
- Saccharum àsinense <small>Roxb.</small> â China
- Saccharum spontaneum <small>L.</small> - Asia, Africa, Sicily, Papuasia
- Saccharum stewartii <small>Rajesw., R.R.Rao & Arti Garg</small> - western Himalayas
- Saccharum velutinum <small>(Holttum) Cope</small> - Peninsular Malaysia
- Saccharum villosum <small>Steud.</small> - South America, Mesoamerica
- Saccharum wardii <small>(Bor) Bor ex Cope</small> - Assam, Bhutan, Myanmar
- Saccharum williamsii <small>(Bor) Bor ex Cope</small> - Nepal
Placed in Lasiorhachis by Plants of the World Online :
Placed in Tripidium by Plants of the World Online :
- Saccharum arundinaceum <small>Retz.</small> - East + South + Southeast Asia; New Guinea â Tripidium arundinaceum
- Saccharum bengalense <small>Retz.</small> - India, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan â Tripidium bengalense
- Saccharum kanashiroi <small>(Ohwi) Ohwi</small> - Ryukyu Islands â Tripidium kanashiroi
- Saccharum procerum <small>Roxb.</small> - China, Himalayas, Indochina â Tripidium procerum
- Saccharum ravennae <small>(L.) L.</small> - Europe, Asia, Africa â Tripidium ravennae
- Saccharum strictum <small>(Host) Spreng.</small> - from Italy to Iran â Tripidium strictum
Formerly included
Numerous species are now considered better suited in other genera: Andropogon, Chloris, Digitaria, Eriochrysis, Eulalia, Gynerium, Hemarthria, Imperata, Lophopogon, Melinis, Miscanthus, Panicum, Pappophorum, Paspalum, Perotis, Pogonatherum, Pseudopogonatherum, Spodiopogon, and Tricholaena.
See also
References
External links