Greek sakchar – sugar.
Tall, robust clumping perennial grasses with cane-like stems and solid internodes. Leaves in 2 ranks, sheathed at the base. Inflorescences in large, open, silky, plumed panicles. Spikelets paired, equal, 1 stalkless, 1 stalked but each with long silky hair and 2 florets. Lower floret reduced to a transparent lemma. Upper floret bisexual, also with a transparent lemma.
The bamboo-like stems and plumed flower heads have ornamental appeal and are similar to those of Pampas Grass. Occasionally naturalised.
Above each node is a 'root ring', a ring of tissue with root shoots that are useful for stem cuttings, although breeding plants are sometimes produced from seed.
Source of household sugar, molasses, cane syrup, treacle, ethanol and, to a lesser extent, fodder. Distilled sugar is the base for rum. Sugarcane fibre after extraction, called 'bagasse', is used as a fuel to power the sugar mills. Pulp of S. arundinaceum is also used in the manufacture of paper, cardboard and lining boards ('Caneite' TM).
Bamboo-like canes and flower heads similar to those of Pampas Grass.
35-50 species from tropical and subtropical areas. Australia has 1 naturalised species.
Whalen (1991).
Source: (2005). Poaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.
