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Miscanthus sinensis — Chinese silvergrass

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Facts

Chinese silvergrass, an exotic species, has been found in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island and has escaped from cultivation into disturbed areas. This very large grass is a favorite ornamental. In its native Japan, it is often the dominant species in grasslands. Although it can multiply by rhizomes, its growth form tends to be clumped, unlike its congener, M. sacchariflorus. It can hybridize with its congener to form Miscanthus × giganteus. There is concern, particularly in southeastern states, that this species has high potential to become invasive.

Habitat

Anthropogenic (man-made or disturbed habitats), meadows and fields

New England distribution

Adapted from BONAP data

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North America distribution

Adapted from BONAP data

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Characteristics

Habitat
terrestrial
New England state
  • Connecticut
  • Massachusetts
  • New Hampshire
  • Rhode Island
Leaf blade width
6–20 mm
Inflorescence branches
the flowers are attached to branches rather than to the main axis of the inflorescence
Spikelet length
3.5–7 mm
Glume relative length
one or both glumes are as long or longer than all of the florets
Awn on glume
the glume has no awn
One or more florets
there is one floret per spikelet
Lemma awn length
0–12 mm
Leaf ligule length
1–2 mm
Show all characteristics

  • Flowers

    Anther number
    0–3
    Awn on glume
    the glume has no awn
    Floret lower bract texture
    the lemma is thin and flexible
    Glume relative length
    one or both glumes are as long or longer than all of the florets
    Glume veins
    • 3
    • 5
    Inflorescence arrangement
    the spikelets are uniform
    Inflorescence axis orientation
    • the inflorescence axis is arched or curved outward
    • the inflorescence axis is straight
    Inflorescence branches
    the flowers are attached to branches rather than to the main axis of the inflorescence
    Inflorescence length
    150–250 mm
    Inflorescence type (general)
    the spikelets are borne on stalks or on branches
    Inflorescence type (specific)
    the inflorescence has pairs (or trios) of spikelets that are similar to each other in structure and size, with at least one of the spikelets on a stalk
    Lemma awn base
    the awn is attached right at the tip of the lemma
    Lemma awn length
    0–12 mm
    Lemma awn number
    • the lemma has no awn
    • the lemma has one awn on it
    Lemma base hair length
    3.5–12 mm
    Lemma base hairs
    the lemma has hairs at the base
    Lemma cross-section
    the lemma is flat or rounded if you cut across the midpoint
    Lemma surface
    the surface of the lemma is relatively smooth (not counting any longitudinal veins or hairs)
    Lemma vein number
    • 0
    • 1
    • 3
    One or more florets
    there is one floret per spikelet
    Spikelet axis tip
    there is no extension of the spikelet axis beyond the tip of the spikelet
    Spikelet disintegration
    the spikelet breaks off below the glumes
    Spikelet length
    3.5–7 mm
    Spikelet pedicel
    the spikelets have pedicels
    Spikelets spiny
    the spikelets do not appear spiny
    Upper glume shape
    the upper glume is widest at or below the middle

  • Growth form

    Roots
    the plant has rhizomes (horizontal underground stem with roots growing from it)

  • Leaves

    Leaf auricles
    the leaves do not have auricles
    Leaf blade width
    6–20 mm
    Leaf ligule length
    1–2 mm
    Leaf ligule type
    the leaf ligule is in the form of a membrane with fine hairs
    Leaf sheath closed around stem
    the margins of the leaf sheath are overlapping and not fused together except in the basal half (or less)
    Leaf sheath hairs
    • there are hairs on the surface of the leaf sheath
    • there are no hairs on the surface of the leaf sheath

  • Place

    Habitat
    terrestrial
    New England state
    • Connecticut
    • Massachusetts
    • New Hampshire
    • Rhode Island
    Specific habitat
    • man-made or disturbed habitats
    • meadows or fields

  • Stem, shoot, branch

    Stem orientation
    the stems are upright
    Stem spacing
    the stems grow close together in compact clusters or tufts

Wetland status

Occurs only in non-wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: UPL)

In New England

Distribution

Connecticut
present, invasive
Maine
absent
Massachusetts
present
New Hampshire
present, invasive
Rhode Island
present
Vermont
absent

Conservation status

Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.

Massachusetts
not applicable (S-rank: SNA)

From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key

2.  Miscanthus sinensis Anderss. E

Chinese silvergrass. Miscanthus sinensis Anderss. var. gracillimus A.S. Hitchc. • CT, MA, NH, RI. Fields, roadsides, open rights-of-way, disturbed soil.

Native to North America?

No

Sometimes confused with

Miscanthus sacchariflorus:
awn of lemma absent or short, not exceeding the glumes of intact spikelets, callus of lemma pubescent with hairs ca. 8–24 mm long, 2–4 times as long as the associated spikelet, and plants long-rhizomatous, forming extensive colonies (vs. M. sinensis, with the awn of lemma elongate, 6–12 mm long, geniculate at base, conspicuously surpassing glumes, callus of lemma pubescent with hairs 3.5–12 mm long, up to twice as long as the associated spikelet, and plants cespitose, with short rhizomes, forming large clumps).

Synonyms

  • Miscanthus sinensis Anderss. var. gracillimus A.S. Hitchc.

Family

Poaceae

Genus

Miscanthus