''Saccharum'' is a genus of tall

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also widel ...

plants of the broomsedge tribe within the

grass family Poaceae () or Gramineae () is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos and the grasses of natural grassland and species cultivated in lawns an ...

. The genus is widespread across tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions in

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

Eurasia Eurasia (, ) is the largest continental area on Earth, comprising all of Europe and Asia. Primarily in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres, it spans from the British Isles and the Iberian Peninsula in the west to the Japanese archipelag ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. With an area of , Australia is the largest country by ...

, the

Americas The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North America, North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World. ...

, and assorted oceanic islands. Several species are cultivated and naturalized in areas outside their native habitats.Welker, C. A. D. & H. M. Longhi-Wagner. 2012. The genera ''Eriochrysis'' P. Beauv., ''Imperata'' Cirillo and ''Saccharum'' L. (Poaceae - Andropogoneae - Saccharinae) in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Botany 35(1): 87–105. ''Saccharum'' includes the

sugarcane Sugarcane or sugar cane is a species of (often hybrid) tall, perennial grass (in the genus '' Saccharum'', tribe Andropogoneae) that is used for sugar production. The plants are 2–6 m (6–20 ft) tall with stout, jointed, fibrous stalk ...

s. They have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are generally rich in

sugar Sugar is the generic name for sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates, many of which are used in food. Simple sugars, also called monosaccharides, include glucose, fructose, and galactose. Compound sugars, also called disaccharides or do ...

, and measure two to six m (6 to 19 ft) tall. All sugarcane species interbreed and the major commercial

cultivar A cultivar is a type of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and when propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue culture ...

s are complex hybrids.

Species

Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It was launched in March 2017 with the ultimate aim being "to enable users to access information on all the world's known seed-bearing plants by ...

accepted the following species: * ''

Saccharum alopecuroidum ''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 ocea ...

'' (L.) Nutt. - southeastern USA * '' Saccharum angustifolium'' (Nees) Trin. - South America * ''

Saccharum asperum ''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 ocean ...

'' (Nees) Steud. - South America * '' Saccharum baldwinii'' Spreng. - southeastern USA * ''

Saccharum beccarii ''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 ocea ...

'' (Stapf) Cope - Sumatra * '' Saccharum brevibarbe'' (Michx.) Pers. - southeastern USA * ''

Saccharum coarctatum ''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 ocean ...

'' (Fern.) R. Webster - southeastern USA * ''

Saccharum contortum ''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 ocean ...

'' (Baldwin ex Elliott) Nutt. - southeastern USA * ''

Saccharum fallax ''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 ocean ...

'' Balansa - China, Assam, southeast Asia * ''

Saccharum filifolium ''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 ocean ...

'' Steud. - Afghanistan, Himalayas * ''

Saccharum formosanum ''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 ocean ...

'' (Stapf) Ohwi - southern China * ''

Saccharum giganteum ''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 ocean ...

'' (Walt.) Pers. - southeastern USA, Cuba, Jamaica, Paraguay, Argentina * ''

Saccharum griffithii ''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 ocean ...

'' Munro ex Aitch. - from Yemen to Bangladesh * ''

Saccharum intermedium ''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 ocean ...

'' Welker & Peichoto * ''

Saccharum kajkaiense ''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 ocean ...

'' (Melderis) Melderis - Oman, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan * ''

Saccharum longesetosum ''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 ocean ...

'' (Andersson) V.Naray. ex Bor - China, Himalayas, Indochina * ''

Saccharum maximum ''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 ocean ...

'' (Brongn.) Trin. - Pacific Islands * ''

Saccharum narenga ''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 ocea ...

'' (Nees ex Steud.) Hack. - China, Indian Subcontinent, Indochina, Ethiopia * ''

Saccharum officinarum ''Saccharum officinarum'' is a large, strong-growing species of grass in the genus '' Saccharum''. Its stout stalks are rich in sucrose, a simple sugar which accumulates in the stalk internodes. It originated in New Guinea, and is now cultivated ...

'' L. - New Guinea; naturalized in many warm places * '' Saccharum robustum'' Brandes & Jesw. ex Grassl - New Guinea * ''

Saccharum rufipilum ''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 ocean ...

'' Steud. - China, Indian Subcontinent, Indochina * ''

Saccharum sikkimense ''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 ocea ...

'' (Hook.f.) V.Naray. ex Bor - eastern Himalayas * ''Saccharum'' × ''sinense'' Roxb. – China * '' Saccharum spontaneum'' L. - Asia, Africa, Sicily, Papuasia * '' Saccharum stewartii'' Rajesw., R.R.Rao & Arti Garg - western Himalayas * '' Saccharum velutinum'' (Holttum) Cope - Peninsular Malaysia * '' Saccharum villosum'' Steud. - South America, Mesoamerica * ''

Saccharum wardii ''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 ocea ...

'' (Bor) Bor ex Cope - Assam, Bhutan, Myanmar * '' Saccharum williamsii'' (Bor) Bor ex Cope - Nepal Placed in ''

Lasiorhachis ''Lasiorhachis'' is a genus of flowering plant in the family Poaceae, native to Madagascar. The taxon was first described as a subdivision of ''Andropogon'' by Eduard Hackel Eduard Hackel (17 March 1850, Haida, Bohemia – 2 February 1926, ...

'' by Plants of the World Online : * ''Saccharum hildebrandtii'' (Hack.) Clayton → ''

Lasiorhachis hildebrandtii ''Lasiorhachis'' is a genus of flowering plant in the family Poaceae, native to Madagascar. The taxon was first described as a subdivision of ''Andropogon'' by Eduard Hackel Eduard Hackel (17 March 1850, Haida, Bohemia – 2 February 1926, ...

'' * ''Saccharum perrieri'' (A.Camus) Clayton. → ''

Lasiorhachis perrieri ''Lasiorhachis'' is a genus of flowering plant in the family Poaceae, native to Madagascar. The taxon was first described as a subdivision of ''Andropogon'' by Eduard Hackel in 1889 and raised to a genus by Otto Stapf in 1927. Species , Pla ...

'' * ''Saccharum viguieri'' (A.Camus) Clayton → ''

Lasiorhachis viguieri ''Lasiorhachis'' is a genus of flowering plant in the family Poaceae, native to Madagascar. The taxon was first described as a subdivision of ''Andropogon'' by Eduard Hackel in 1889 and raised to a genus by Otto Stapf in 1927. Species , Pla ...

'' Placed in '' Tripidium'' by Plants of the World Online : * ''Saccharum arundinaceum'' Retz. - East + South + Southeast Asia; New Guinea → ''

Tripidium arundinaceum ''Tripidium arundinaceum'', synonym ''Saccharum arundinaceum'', commonly known as hardy sugar cane, is a grass native to tropical and subtropical Asia from India to Korea and New Guinea. In the Tamil language it is known as நாணல் � ...

'' * ''Saccharum bengalense'' Retz. - India, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan → ''

Tripidium bengalense ''Tripidium bengalense'', synonym ''Saccharum bengalense'', with the common names munj sweetcane, baruwa sugarcane or baruwa grass, is a plant of the genus '' Tripidium'' native to Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, northern India, Nepal, Bangladesh an ...

'' * ''Saccharum kanashiroi'' (Ohwi) Ohwi - Ryukyu Islands → ''

Tripidium kanashiroi ''Tripidium'' is a genus of flowering plant in the family Poaceae, native to Spain, Morocco, Korea and New Guinea. The genus name was first published by Hildemar Wolfgang Scholz in 2006 as a replacement for the illegitimate name ''Ripidium' ...

'' * ''Saccharum procerum'' Roxb. - China, Himalayas, Indochina → ''

Tripidium procerum ''Tripidium'' is a genus of flowering plant in the family Poaceae, native to Spain, Morocco, Korea and New Guinea. The genus name was first published by Hildemar Wolfgang Scholz in 2006 as a replacement for the illegitimate name ''Ripidium' ...

'' * ''Saccharum ravennae'' (L.) L. - Europe, Asia, Africa → ''

Tripidium ravennae ''Tripidium ravennae'', synonym ''Saccharum ravennae'' (and many others), with the common names ravennagrass and elephant grass, is a species of grass in the genus '' Tripidium''. It is native to southern Europe, western Asia and South Asia and ...

'' * ''Saccharum strictum'' (Host) Spreng. - from Italy to Iran → ''

Tripidium strictum ''Tripidium'' is a genus of flowering plant in the family Poaceae, native to Spain, Morocco, Korea and New Guinea. The genus name was first published by Hildemar Wolfgang Scholz in 2006 as a replacement for the illegitimate name ''Ripidium' ...

Formerly included

Numerous species are now considered better suited in other genera: ''

Andropogon ''Andropogon'' (common names: beard grass, bluestem grass, broomsedge) is a widespread genus of plants in the grass family, native to much of Asia, Africa, and the Americas, as well as southern Europe and various oceanic islands. Over 100 specie ...

Chloris In Greek mythology, the name Chloris (; Greek Χλωρίς ''Chlōrís'', from χλωρός ''chlōrós'', meaning "greenish-yellow", "pale green", "pale", "pallid", or "fresh") appears in a variety of contexts. Some clearly refer to different char ...

, Digitaria,

Eriochrysis ''Eriochrysis'' is a genus of African and Neotropical plants in the Poaceae, grass family. ; Species * ''Eriochrysis brachypogon'' (Stapf) Stapf - tropical + southern Africa - from Senegal to Eswatini * ''Eriochrysis cayennensis'' P.Beauv. - tro ...

, Eulalia,

Gynerium ''Gynerium'' is a monotypic genus of Neotropical plants in the grass family, native to Mexico and Colombia, Central America, South America, and the West Indies. It is classified in its own tribe Gynerieae. The sole species in the genus i ...

, Hemarthria, Imperata, Lophopogon, Melinis, Miscanthus,

Panicum ''Panicum'' (panicgrass) is a large genus of about 450 species of grasses native throughout the tropical regions of the world, with a few species extending into the northern temperate zone. They are often large, annual or perennial grasses, growi ...

, Pappophorum,

Paspalum ''Paspalum'' is a genus of plants in the grass family. The group is widespread across much of Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas. Commonly known as paspalum, bahiagrasses, crowngrasses or dallis grasses, many of the species are tall pere ...

, Perotis,

Pogonatherum ''Pogonatherum'' is a genus of Asian and oceanic island plants in the grass family. ; Species * '' Pogonatherum biaristatum'' S.L.Chen & G.Y.Sheng - Hainan * '' Pogonatherum crinitum'' (Thunb.) Kunth - Indian Subcontinent, China, Japan, southeas ...

, Pseudopogonatherum,

Spodiopogon ''Spodiopogon'' is a genus of Asian plants in the grass family. One species, '' Spodiopogon formosanus'', is grown as a cultivated millet Millets () are a highly varied group of small-seeded grasses, widely grown around the world as cerea ...

, and

Tricholaena ''Tricholaena'' is a genus of Asian, African, and Italian plants in the grass family. ; Species * '' Tricholaena capensis'' (Licht. ex Roem. & Schult.) Nees - Free State, Namibia, Cape Province * '' Tricholaena monachne'' (Trin.) Stapf & C.E.Hu ...

''.

References

External links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q17136949 Poaceae genera

Species

Formerly included

See also

References

External links