Chinese Silvergrass

This is a widespread species with a broad range of variation. Although the variants may be locally distinct, there are too many intermediates to allow a more detailed taxonomy to be followed. The main variants are as follows: Miscanthus condensatus: plants robust, 200–400 cm tall; leaf blades broad, 20–40 mm wide; panicle dense, of up to 100 racemes; Japan (including Ryukyu Islands), especially on coasts; M. purpurascens: glumes conspicuously pilose; throughout the range of M. sinensis; M. transmorrisonensis: panicles of 5–10 racemes; Taiwan.

The name "Miscanthus jinxianensis L. Liu" (Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 10(2): 7. 1997) was not validly published because no Latin description was provided. It probably refers to a slightly large form of M. sinensis. The specimen on which it is based has not been seen.

Plant tufted or shortly rhizomatous. Culms (30–)80–200 (–400) cm tall, 3–10 mm in diam., solid, unbranched, nodes glabrous or puberulous. Leaves basal and cauline; leaf sheaths glabrous or pilose; leaf blades linear, flat, 18–75 × 0.3–2(–4) cm, glabrous, glaucous or pilose, midrib prominent, margins scabrid or smooth, base tapering or broad and rounded, apex acuminate; ligule 0.5–4 mm, ciliolate. Panicle (10–)20–36 cm; axis 6–16 cm, subglabrous to pilose or puberulous. Racemes (4–)10–40(–100), (8–)10–30 cm; rachis internodes glabrous, scaberulous or smooth, nodes glabrous; lower pedicel 0.5–1.5 mm, upper pedicel 1.5–4 mm. Spikelets 4–6.5 mm, pilose or glabrous, awned; callus hairs 5–8 mm, exceeding the spikelet; glumes subequal, membranous, 4–6.5 mm, 5-veined, back glabrous or pilose, puberulous at apex and along upper margins, apex acuminate; lower lemma lanceolate, hyaline, 3.5–4 mm, veinless, apex and margins puberulous, otherwise glabrous; upper lemma similar to lower, 2.5–3.5 mm; awn geniculate, 4–12 mm; upper palea a 1–2 mm scale. Anthers 3, ca. 2.5 mm. Caryopsis ellipsoid, ca. 2 mm.

Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Hubei, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Shaanxi, Shandong, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Japan, Korea].

Mountain slopes, coasts, disturbed places; below 2000 m.

Miscanthus condensatus Hackel; M. flavidus Honda; M. kanehirae Honda; M. purpurascens Andersson; M. sinensis subsp. purpurascens (Andersson) Tzvelev; M. sinensis var. condensatus (Hackel) Makino; M. sinensis var. purpurascens (Andersson) Matsumura; M. transmorrisonensis Hayata.