Saccharum
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 oceanic islands. Several species are cultivated and naturalized in areas outside their native habitats.
Saccharum includes the sugarcanes, as well as several ornamental grasses such as Ravenna grass. They have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are generally rich in sugar, and measure two to six m tall. All sugarcane species interbreed and the major commercial cultivars are complex hybrids.
; Accepted species
- Saccharum alopecuroidum Nutt. - southeastern USA
- Saccharum angustifolium Trin. - South America
- Saccharum arundinaceum Retz. - East + South + Southeast Asia; New Guinea
- Saccharum asperum Steud. - South America
- Saccharum baldwinii Spreng. - southeastern USA
- Saccharum beccarii Cope - Sumatra
- Saccharum bengalense Retz. - India, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan
- Saccharum brevibarbe Pers. - southeastern USA
- Saccharum coarctatum R. Webster - southeastern USA
- Saccharum contortum Nutt. - southeastern USA
- Saccharum fallax Balansa - China, Assam, southeast Asia
- Saccharum filifolium Steud. - Afghanistan, Himalayas
- Saccharum formosanum Ohwi - southern China
- Saccharum giganteum Pers. - southeastern USA, Cuba, Jamaica, Paraguay, Argentina
- Saccharum griffithii Munro ex Aitch. - from Yemen to Bangladesh
- Saccharum hildebrandtii Clayton - Madagascar
- Saccharum kajkaiense Melderis - Oman, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan
- Saccharum kanashiroi Ohwi - Ryukyu Islands
- Saccharum longesetosum V.Naray. ex Bor - China, Himalayas, Indochina
- Saccharum maximum Trin. - Pacific Islands
- Saccharum narenga Hack. - China, Indian Subcontinent, Indochina, Ethiopia
- Saccharum officinarum L. - New Guinea; naturalized in many warm places
- Saccharum perrieri Clayton. - Madagascar
- Saccharum procerum Roxb. - China, Himalayas, Indochina
- Saccharum ravennae L. - Europe, Asia, Africa
- Saccharum robustum Brandes & Jesw. ex Grassl - New Guinea
- Saccharum rufipilum Steud. - China, Indian Subcontinent, Indochina
- Saccharum sikkimense V.Naray. ex Bor - eastern Himalayas
- Saccharum spontaneum L. - Asia, Africa, Sicily, Papuasia
- Saccharum stewartii Rajesw., R.R.Rao & Arti Garg - western Himalayas
- Saccharum strictum Spreng. - from Italy to Iran
- Saccharum velutinum Cope - Peninsular Malaysia
- Saccharum viguieri Clayton - Madagascar
- Saccharum villosum Steud. - South America, Mesoamerica
- Saccharum wardii Bor ex Cope - Assam, Bhutan, Myanmar
- Saccharum williamsii Bor ex Cope - Nepal
- Saccharum sinense Roxb. - China
Formerly included
Numerous species are now considered better suited in other genera: Andropogon, Chloris, Digitaria, Eriochrysis, Eulalia, Gynerium, Hemarthria, Imperata, Lophopogon, Melinis, Miscanthus, Panicum, Pappophorum, Paspalum, Perotis, Pogonatherum, Pseudopogonatherum, Spodiopogon, and Tricholaena.