Saccharum spontaneum L.

Perennial, with long rhizomes. Culms 1–4 m tall, 0.4–1 cm in diam., 5–10-noded, often hollow in center, nodes bearded, softly pilose below inflorescence. Leaf sheaths pilose at mouth and margin, sometimes tuberculate-pilose throughout; leaf blades 60–180 × 0.2–0.8 cm, glaucous, glabrous, margins serrate, tapering to midrib at base, apex long attentuate; ligule brown, 2–8 mm. Panicle 20–40 cm, axis silky pilose; racemes 4–17 cm; rachis internodes 1.5–5 mm, pilose with long silky hairs. Spikelets 3–4 mm; callus hairs 3–4 times length of spikelet; lower glume papery and dark brown below middle at maturity, membranous and pallid above, back glabrous, margins ciliate above, apex acuminate; lower lemma ovate-lanceolate, equal to glumes; upper lemma linear or linear-oblong, awnless. Lodicules ciliate. Anthers 3, 1.5–2 mm. Fl. and fr. Jul–Sep. 2n = 40–128.

A tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands from sea level up to at least 1650 m. It is often common in areas with a strongly seasonal rainfall and in grassland areas. It grows in areas with a rainfall above 1,500 mm. It can grow in arid places.

The very young flower shoots are eaten raw or cooked. They are also used in chutney. The peeled rhizome is sweet and is chewed. Ash from the burnt plant is used as a salt substitute. The seeds are eaten in Uganda.

Plants are mostly grown by dividing up the old clump.