Miscanthus

Miscanthus is a genus of African, Eurasian and Pacific Island plants, family Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Andropogoneae, subtribe Saccharinae, commonly called silvergrass, with 14 species currently accepted. The name derives from Greek words for stem and flower, referring to the stalked spikelets. Several species are notable for their height and biomass production and are used as ornamental grasses, energy crops and biofuel sources; Miscanthus sinensis is culturally important in Japan, known as susuki and recognized as one of the seven autumn flowers, while the hybrid Miscanthus times giganteus can grow over 4 meters tall in a single growing season and yields 10 to 40 metric tons of dry mass per hectare annually in temperate climates.