Miscanthus sinensis explained

Miscanthus sinensis, the eulalia^[1] or Chinese silver grass, is a species of flowering plant in the grass family Poaceae, native to eastern Asia throughout most of China, Japan, Taiwan and Korea.

Description

It is an herbaceous perennial grass, growing to 0.8- tall, rarely 40NaN0, forming dense clumps from an underground rhizome. The leaves are 18- tall and 0.3–2 cm broad. The flowers are purplish, held above the foliage. This plant is the preferred structure for the nesting of some species of paper wasps, such as Ropalidia fasciata.^[2]

Nomenclature

The Latin specific epithet sinensis means "from China",^[3] though the plant is found elsewhere in eastern Asia.

Forms and varieties

• M. sinensis f. glaber Honda
• M. sinensis var. gracillimus Hitchc.
• M. sinensis var. variegatus Beal
• M. sinensis var. zebrinus Beal

Cultivation

It is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate climates around the world.

It has become an invasive species in parts of North America.^[4] However, it is possible to reduce the likelihood of escape or hybridization with extant wild M. sinensis populations with breeding and proper management.^[5]

Cultivars

Several cultivars have been selected, including 'Strictus' with narrow growth habit, 'Variegata' with white margins, and ‘Zebrinus’ (sometimes incorrectly rendered as 'Zebrina') with horizontal yellow and green stripes across the leaves. Those marked have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.^[6]

• 'Border Bandit'
• 'Cosmopolitan' ^[7]
• 'Dronning Ingrid'
• 'Ferner Osten' ^[8]
• 'Flamingo' ^[9]
• 'Gewitterwolke' ^[10]
• 'Ghana' ^[11]
• 'Gold und Silber' ^[12]
• 'Gracillimus'
• 'Grosse Fontäne' ^[13]
• 'Kaskade' ^[14]
• 'Kleine Fontäne' ^[15]
• 'Kleine Silberspinne' ^[16]
• 'Malepartus'
• 'Morning Light' ^[17]
• 'Septemberrot' ^[18]
• 'Silberfeder' ^[19]
• 'Strictus' ^[20]
• 'Undine' ^[21]
• 'Variegatus'
• 'Zebrinus' ^[22]

Uses

M. sinensis is a candidate for bioenergy production due to its high yield, even in high-stress environments, easy propagation, effective nutrient cycling, and high genetic variation.^[23]

Synonyms

• Eulalia japonica Trin.
• Saccharum japonicum Thunb.

External links

• Photos of Miscanthus sinensis: seasonal/color change
• Flora of China: Miscanthus sinensis
• Virginia Cooperative Extension: Miscanthus sinensis 'Stricta'

Notes and References

1. Web site: Miscanthus sinensis . RHS . 16 February 2021.
2. Ito. K. Relocation of Nests by Swarms and Nest Reconstruction in Late Autumn in the Primitively Eusocial Wasp, Ropalidia fasciata with Discussions on the Role of Swarming. Journal of Ethology. 1992. 109. 2. 109–117. 10.1007/BF02350115. 8001673.
3. Book: Harrison, Lorraine. RHS Latin for gardeners. 2012. Mitchell Beazley. United Kingdom. 9781845337315. 224.
4. http://www.invasive.org/browse/subject.cfm?sub=3052 Chinese silvergrass
5. Quinn LD, Allen DJ, Stewart JR (2010) Invasiveness potential of Miscanthus sinensis: implications for bioenergy production in the United States. Global Change Biology Bioenergy. 1-2, 126–153.
6. Web site: AGM Plants - Ornamental . July 2017 . 64 . Royal Horticultural Society . 4 April 2018.
7. Web site: RHS Plant Selector - Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus 'Cosmopolitan'. 3 January 2021.
8. Web site: RHS Plant Selector - Miscanthus sinensis 'Ferner Osten'. 3 January 2021.
9. Web site: RHS Plant Selector - Miscanthus sinensis 'Flamingo'. 3 January 2021.
10. Web site: RHS Plant Selector - Miscanthus sinensis 'Gewitterwolke'. 3 January 2021.
11. Web site: RHS Plant Selector - Miscanthus sinensis 'Ghana'. 3 January 2021.
12. Web site: RHS Plant Selector - Miscanthus sinensis 'Gold und Silber'. 3 January 2021.
13. Web site: RHS Plant Selector - Miscanthus sinensis 'Grosse Fontane'. 3 January 2021.
14. Web site: RHS Plant Selector - Miscanthus sinensis 'Kaskade'. 3 January 2021.
15. Web site: RHS Plant Selector - Miscanthus sinensis 'Kleine Fontane'. 3 January 2021.
16. Web site: RHS Plant Selector - Miscanthus sinensis 'Kleine Silberspinne'. 3 January 2021.
17. Web site: RHS Plant Selector - Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light'. 3 January 2021.
18. Web site: RHS Plant Selector - Miscanthus sinensis 'Septemberrot'. 3 January 2021.
19. Web site: RHS Plant Selector - Miscanthus sinensis 'Silberfeder'. 3 January 2021.
20. Web site: RHS Plant Selector - Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictus'. 3 January 2021.
21. Web site: RHS Plant Selector - Miscanthus sinensis 'Undine'. 3 January 2021.
22. Web site: RHS Plant Selector - Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus'. 3 January 2021.
23. Stewart R, Toma Y, Fernández FG, Nishiwaki A, Yamada T, Bollero G (2009) The ecology and agronomy of “Miscanthus sinensis”, a species important to bioenergy crop development, in its native range in Japan: a review. Global Change Biology Bioenergy. 1-2, 126–153.