Saccharum


Saccharum is a genus of tall perennial plants of the broomsedge tribe within the grass family.
The genus is widespread across tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions in Africa, Eurasia, Australia, the Americas, and assorted oceanic islands. Several species are cultivated and naturalized in areas outside their native habitats.
Saccharum includes the sugarcanes. They have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are generally rich in sugar, and measure two to six m tall. All sugarcane species interbreed and the major commercial cultivars are complex hybrids.

Species

, Plants of the World Online accepted the following species:
  • Saccharum alopecuroidum Nutt. - southeastern USA
  • Saccharum angustifolium Trin. - South America
  • Saccharum asperum Steud. - South America
  • Saccharum baldwinii Spreng. - southeastern USA
  • Saccharum beccarii Cope - Sumatra
  • Saccharum brevibarbe Pers. - southeastern USA
  • Saccharum coarctatum R. Webster - southeastern USA
  • Saccharum contortum Nutt. - southeastern USA
  • Saccharum fallax Balansa - China, Assam, southeast Asia
  • Saccharum filifolium Steud. - Afghanistan, Himalayas
  • Saccharum formosanum Ohwi - southern China
  • Saccharum giganteum Pers. - southeastern USA, Cuba, Jamaica, Paraguay, Argentina
  • Saccharum griffithii Munro ex Aitch. - from Yemen to Bangladesh
  • Saccharum intermedium Welker & Peichoto
  • Saccharum kajkaiense Melderis - Oman, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan
  • Saccharum longesetosum V.Naray. ex Bor - China, Himalayas, Indochina
  • Saccharum maximum Trin. - Pacific Islands
  • Saccharum narenga Hack. - China, Indian Subcontinent, Indochina, Ethiopia
  • Saccharum officinarum L. - New Guinea; naturalized in many warm places
  • Saccharum robustum Brandes & Jesw. ex Grassl - New Guinea
  • Saccharum rufipilum Steud. - China, Indian Subcontinent, Indochina
  • Saccharum sikkimense V.Naray. ex Bor - eastern Himalayas
  • Saccharum × sinense Roxb. – China
  • Saccharum spontaneum L. - Asia, Africa, Sicily, Papuasia
  • Saccharum stewartii Rajesw., R.R.Rao & Arti Garg - western Himalayas
  • Saccharum velutinum Cope - Peninsular Malaysia
  • Saccharum villosum Steud. - South America, Mesoamerica
  • Saccharum wardii Bor ex Cope - Assam, Bhutan, Myanmar
  • Saccharum williamsii Bor ex Cope - Nepal
Placed in Lasiorhachis by Plants of the World Online as of 2021:
  • Saccharum hildebrandtii Clayton → Lasiorhachis hildebrandtii
  • Saccharum perrieri Clayton. → Lasiorhachis perrieri
  • Saccharum viguieri Clayton → Lasiorhachis viguieri
Placed in Tripidium by Plants of the World Online as of 2021:
  • Saccharum arundinaceum Retz. - East + South + Southeast Asia; New Guinea → Tripidium arundinaceum
  • Saccharum bengalense Retz. - India, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan → Tripidium bengalense
  • Saccharum kanashiroi Ohwi - Ryukyu Islands → Tripidium kanashiroi
  • Saccharum procerum Roxb. - China, Himalayas, Indochina → Tripidium procerum
  • Saccharum ravennae L. - Europe, Asia, Africa → Tripidium ravennae
  • Saccharum strictum Spreng. - from Italy to Iran → ''Tripidium strictum''

    Formerly included

Numerous species are now considered better suited in other genera: Andropogon, Chloris, Digitaria, Eriochrysis, Eulalia, Gynerium, Hemarthria, Imperata, Lophopogon, Melinis, Miscanthus, Panicum, Pappophorum, Paspalum, Perotis, Pogonatherum, Pseudopogonatherum, Spodiopogon, and Tricholaena.