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sugarcane Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum).

plume grass

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Also known as: Erianthus
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plume grass, (genus Saccharum), genus of about 20 species of grasses in the family Poaceae, native to warm regions of the Northern and Southern hemispheres. The genus comprises the sugarcanes (notably Saccharum officinarum) and several ornamental species, including Ravenna grass (S. ravennae).

Plume grasses are tall reedlike perennials and usually grow 1 to 3 metres (3.3 to 10 feet) tall. The thick jointed stems generally have a high sugar content and bear long straplike leaves. The flowers are borne in dense cylindrical plumelike panicles (flower clusters). Plume grasses readily hybridize with one another and are often cultivated from cuttings.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.
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list of plants in the family Poaceae
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list of plants in the family Poaceae

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Written by
Melissa Petruzzello
Melissa Petruzzello is Assistant Managing Editor and covers a range of content including plants, algae, and fungi; insects and spiders; and renewable energy and environmental engineering. She also handles...
Melissa Petruzzello
Fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
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With more than 10,000 species, the grass family, Poaceae, is one of the largest families of flowering plants. Its members are monocotyledons and feature leaves with parallel veins; the flowers are usually wind-pollinated. Many grasses are cultivated as ornamental plants and for lawns, and several are staple cereal crops. The following is a list of some of the major genera and species in Poaceae, arranged alphabetically by common name.

Melissa Petruzzello
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