Saccharum giganteum
sugarcane plumegrass, giant plume grass
Family
Poaceae
Leaf Arrangement
alternate
Leaf Attachment
sheathing
Leaf Type
simple
Leaf Shape
linear
Growth Form
graminoid
Flower Color
purple, red, white
Flower Month
September - November
Height (meters)
0.9 - 4.0
Milky Sap
No
Armed/Unarmed
Unarmed
Origin
native
Lifespan
perennial
Growing Season
Warm season
Wetland Class
FACW
Wetland Coefficient of Conservatism
3
Prairie Coefficient of Conservatism
4
Field Characters
A tall robust grass with a large inflorescence up to 4 dm long and 1.5 dm wide. The inflorescence is white, silver, red, or purple and there is usually pubescence below it. The rachis and pedicels are also densely pubescent.
Natural History
Found in wet areas throughout the southeastern United States.
Habitat
Sandy soil, savannas, ditches, woodland borders, moist ground, old fields.