Miscanthus sinensis — Chinese silvergrass
![Inflorescences: Miscanthus sinensis. ~ By Carol Levine. ~ Copyright © 2024 Carol Levine. ~ carolflora[at]optonline.net](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Poaceae/miscanthus-sinensis-in-clevine.jpg)
![Leaves: Miscanthus sinensis. ~ By John Lynch. ~ Copyright © 2024 New England Wild Flower Society. ~ Image Request, images[at]newenglandwild.org](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Poaceae/miscanthus-sinensis-variegatus-le-jlynch.jpg)
![Plant form: Miscanthus sinensis. ~ By John Lynch. ~ Copyright © 2024 New England Wild Flower Society. ~ Image Request, images[at]newenglandwild.org](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Poaceae/miscanthus-sinensis-variegatus-ha-jlynch.jpg)
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Facts
Chinese silvergrass, an exotic species, has been found in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island and has escaped from cultivation into disturbed areas. This very large grass is a favorite ornamental. In its native Japan, it is often the dominant species in grasslands. Although it can multiply by rhizomes, its growth form tends to be clumped, unlike its congener, M. sacchariflorus. It can hybridize with its congener to form Miscanthus × giganteus. There is concern, particularly in southeastern states, that this species has high potential to become invasive.
Habitat
Anthropogenic (man-made or disturbed habitats), meadows and fields
New England distribution
Adapted from BONAP data
Native: indigenous.
Non-native: introduced (intentionally or unintentionally); has become naturalized.
County documented: documented to exist in the county by evidence (herbarium specimen, photograph). Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
State documented: documented to exist in the state, but not documented to a county within the state. Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
Note: when native and non-native populations both exist in a county, only native status is shown on the map.
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enlargeCharacteristics
- Habitat
- terrestrial
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
- Leaf blade width
- 6–20 mm
- Inflorescence branches
- the flowers are attached to branches rather than to the main axis of the inflorescence
- Spikelet length
- 3.5–7 mm
- Glume relative length
- both glumes are as long or longer than all of the florets
- Awn on glume
- the glume has no awn
- One or more florets
- there is one floret per spikelet
- Lemma awn length
- 0–12 mm
- Leaf ligule length
- 1–2 mm
-
Flowers
- Anther number
- 0–3
- Awn on glume
- the glume has no awn
- Floret lower bract texture
- the lemma is thin and flexible
- Glume relative length
- both glumes are as long or longer than all of the florets
- Glume veins
-
- 3
- 5
- Inflorescence arrangement
- the spikelets are uniform
- Inflorescence axis orientation
-
- the inflorescence axis is arched or curved outward
- the inflorescence axis is straight
- Inflorescence branches
- the flowers are attached to branches rather than to the main axis of the inflorescence
- Inflorescence length
- 150–250 mm
- Inflorescence type (general)
- the spikelets are borne on stalks or on branches
- Inflorescence type (specific)
- the inflorescence has pairs (or trios) of spikelets that are similar to each other in structure and size, with at least one of the spikelets on a stalk
- Lemma awn base
- the awn is attached right at the tip of the lemma
- Lemma awn length
- 0–12 mm
- Lemma awn number
-
- the lemma has no awn
- the lemma has one awn on it
- Lemma base hair length
- 3.5–12 mm
- Lemma base hairs
- the lemma has hairs at the base
- Lemma cross-section
- the lemma is flat or rounded if you cut across the midpoint
- Lemma surface
- the surface of the lemma is relatively smooth (not counting any longitudinal veins or hairs)
- Lemma vein number
-
- 0
- 1
- 3
- One or more florets
- there is one floret per spikelet
- Spikelet axis tip
- there is no extension of the spikelet axis beyond the tip of the spikelet
- Spikelet disintegration
- the spikelet breaks off below the glumes
- Spikelet length
- 3.5–7 mm
- Spikelet pedicel
- the spikelets have pedicels
- Spikelets spiny
- the spikelets do not appear spiny
- Upper glume shape
- the upper glume is widest at or below the middle
-
Growth form
- Roots
- the plant has rhizomes (horizontal underground stem with roots growing from it)
-
Leaves
- Leaf auricles
- the leaves do not have auricles
- Leaf blade width
- 6–20 mm
- Leaf ligule length
- 1–2 mm
- Leaf ligule type
- the leaf ligule is in the form of a membrane with fine hairs
- Leaf sheath closed around stem
- the margins of the leaf sheath are overlapping and not fused together except in the basal half (or less)
- Leaf sheath hairs
-
- there are hairs on the surface of the leaf sheath
- there are no hairs on the surface of the leaf sheath
-
Place
- Habitat
- terrestrial
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
- Specific habitat
-
- man-made or disturbed habitats
- meadows or fields
-
Stem, shoot, branch
- Stem orientation
- the stems are upright
- Stem spacing
- the stems grow close together in compact clusters or tufts
Wetland status
Occurs only in non-wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: UPL)
In New England
Distribution
- Connecticut
- present, invasive
- Maine
- absent
- Massachusetts
- present
- New Hampshire
- absent
- Rhode Island
- present
- Vermont
- absent
Conservation status
Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.
- Massachusetts
- unranked (S-rank: SNR)
From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key
2. Miscanthus sinensis Anderss. E
Chinese silvergrass. Miscanthus sinensis Anderss. var. gracillimus A.S. Hitchc. • CT, MA, RI. Fields, roadsides, disturbed soil.
Native to North America?
No