maiden silvergrass

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chinese silvergrass
• eulalia
• miscanthus
• zebra grass
• Chinese fairy grass
• Maiden Grass
• Susuki Grass
• bristle miscanthus
• Maiden Silvergrass

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ripidium japonicum
• Miscanthus sinensis var. zebrinus
• Eulalia japonica var. zebrina
• Eulalia japonica zebrina
• Miscanthus sinensis var. purpurascens
• Miscanthus sinensis f. pycnocephalus
• Eulalia zebrina
• Miscanthus pycnocephalus
• Xiphagrostis japonica
• Miscanthus kokusanensis var. variegatus
• Miscanthus condensatus f. purpurascens
• Miscanthus purpurascens
• Miscanthus sinensis var. transiticus
• Miscanthus condensatus var. purpurascens
• Miscanthus sinensis f. albiflorus
• Miscanthus sinensis var. variegatus
• Miscanthus sinensis var. viridis
• Miscanthus sinensis f. chejuensis
• Miscanthus sinensis var. yogoi
• Miscanthus sinensis f. viridis
• Erianthus japonicus
• Xiphagrostis condensata
• Eulalia japonica
• Miscanthus transmorrisonensis
• Eulalia japonica var. gracillima
• Miscanthus sinensis var. longiaxis
• Miscanthus zebrinus
• Miscanthus condensatus var. intermedius
• Miscanthus pycnocephalus var. purpurascens
• Miscanthus sinensis f. crassiracemus
• Miscanthus sinensis f. decompositus
• Miscanthus sinensis f. gracillimus
• Miscanthus sinensis f. hashimotoi
• Miscanthus sinensis f. porphyrocomus
• Miscanthus nakaianus
• Miscanthus sinensis f. purpurascens
• Miscanthus sinensis f. transiticus
• Miscanthus sinensis f. variegatus
• Miscanthus sinensis f. zebrinus
• Miscanthus sinensis subsp. condensatus
• Miscanthus sinensis subsp. purpurascens
• Miscanthus sinensis var. albiflorus
• Miscanthus sinensis var. chejuensis
• Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus
• Miscanthus sinensis var. decompositus
• Miscanthus sinensis var. formosanus
• Miscanthus sinensis var. gracillimus
• Miscanthus sinensis var. ionandros
• Miscanthus sinensis var. keumunensis
• Miscanthus neocoreanus
• Miscanthus sinensis var. nakaianus
• Miscanthus flavidus
• Miscanthus chejuensis
• Miscanthus condensatus
• Miscanthus coreensis
• Miscanthus boninensis
• Miscanthus matsudae
• Miscanthus matsudae var. glabrescens
• Miscanthus miser
• Miscanthus ionandros
• Miscanthus hidakanus
• Miscanthus kanehirae
• Miscanthus kokusanensis
• Miscanthus kokusanensis f. variegatus
• Miscanthus littoralis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Poales, it is classified under the family Poaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Miscanthus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several European regions. In Northern Europe, its presence can be identified within Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward Middle Europe, the species is also documented in Austria. Its range continues through the central territories of Czechia-Slovakia. Finally, the geographical footprint of this medicinal plant extends into Germany.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Miscanthus sinensis is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, spanning from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1800 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range of 1800 m AMSL. This species demonstrates significant adaptability to human-modified landscapes, as it is frequently found within "Área Antrópica" (anthropic areas), indicating its ability to thrive in habitats influenced by human activity.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Miscanthus sinensis is characterized by its perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural life form, it functions as a hemicryptophyte, meaning its perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or ground debris. Additionally, the plant exhibits the traits of a geophyte, relying on underground structures to survive periods of dormancy and ensure its long-term survival within its ecological niche.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Miscanthus sinensis is characterized by a graminoid growth form, functioning as a non-woody herb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not exhibit climbing behavior and exists as an independent organism rather than a parasite. As a terrestrial species, it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant displays significant variability in height, with minimum measurements starting at 0.6 m, a mean height of approximately 1.5 m, and a maximum height reaching up to 3 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

graminoid

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

1.5 m

Plant height min:

0.6 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Miscanthus sinensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic efficiency and carbon fixation processes. The vegetative structure is defined by its leaf morphology, where the leaves exhibit a mean width of 1.1 cm, with recorded measurements ranging from a minimum of 1.1 cm to a maximum of 1 cm. The longitudinal development of the foliage is significant, with leaf lengths reaching a maximum of 50 cm, providing a substantial surface area for light interception and gas exchange essential for its metabolic functions.

Leaf length max:

50 cm

Leaf width max:

1 cm

Leaf width mean:

1.1 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Miscanthus sinensis involves both sexual and asexual processes, as asexual reproduction is present in the species. The sexual cycle is characterized by a specific flowering period that begins in July and concludes in August. This flowering process relies on abiotic pollination, specifically utilizing wind as the primary pollination syndrome. Following successful pollination, the plant produces dry fruits containing seeds with highly consistent dimensions: the seeds have a mean length of 2.5 mm (ranging from a minimum to maximum of 2.5 mm), a mean width of 0.7 mm (with a minimum and maximum of 0.7 mm), and a constant volume of 0.34 mm³. The seed mass is also relatively uniform, with a mean mass of 0.000853 g and a maximum/minimum recorded value of 0.00095 g. Once mature, the seeds are dispersed via an anemochorous syndrome, relying on the wind to transport them to new locations.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit dryness :

dry

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

present

Seed length mean:

2.5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00095 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000853 g

Seed volume max:

0.34 mm³

Seed width mean:

0.7 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Miscanthus sinensis has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, rhizome.

Leaf

1. Phytochemistry

Rhizome

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Chemicals

Miscanthus sinensis has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids.

Flavonoids

1. Phytochemistry