Mid-Atlantic Invaders Tool

bristle miscanthus

Miscanthus sinensis

Anderss.

Taxon, Habit: Plant, Graminoid, Grass

Habitat: Terrestrial/Wetland

U.S. Nativity: Introduced

Species Synonym(s): None

Common Name(s): Chinese silvergrass, eulalia, Chinese plume grass, zebra grass, eulaliagrass

Family: Poaceae (Grass Family)

Family Synonym(s): None

Native Range (GRIN):

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Flower

James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service

Infestation

James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service

Fruit

Chris Evans, University of Illinois

Plant

Chris Evans, University of Illinois

Feature

James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service

Foliage

Britt Slattery, US Fish and Wildlife Service

Infestation

Britt Slattery, US Fish and Wildlife Service

Plant

Chris Evans, University of Illinois

Infestation

James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service

Flower

Arthur E. Miller, USDA APHIS PPQ

Fruit

Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

Root

Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut

Control

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Resource Management , USDI National Park Service

Plant

USDA NRCS PLANTS Database , USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

Plant

USDA NRCS PLANTS Database , USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

Description

Appearance
Miscanthus sinensis is a tall, up to 12 ft. (3.7 m), densely-bunched grass that invades roadsides, forest edges, old fields, and other disturbed areas throughout the United States.
Foliage
The leaves are long (up to 18 in. [45 cm]), slender, and upright-to-arching with sharp tips and rough margins. The midribs are silvery in color.
Flowers
The terminal panicle is fan-shaped, long (2 ft. [0.6 m] in length), and silvery to pink in color. Flowering occurs in late summer.
Fruit
Each fertile floret in the panicle bears an awn that is 0.3-0.4 in. (8-10 mm) long and is spirally twisted at its base. It can also spread through rhizomes.
Ecological Threat
Miscanthus sinensis escapes from ornamental plantings and can form large clumps along disturbed areas, displacing native vegetation. The grass is also extremely flammable and increases fire risks of invaded areas. It is native to Asia and was introduced into the United States for ornamental purposes during the late 1800s.

Uses

Landscape Ornamental Use (GRIN): Yes

All Uses (GRIN): Ornamental

Distribution Map (EDDMapS)

Wetland Indicator

Summary: bristle miscanthus (Miscanthus sinensis) is a Terrestrial/Wetland species.

Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain (AGCP):

Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain regions

Eastern Mountains and Piedmont (EMP):

Mid-Atlantic Piedmont and Mountain regions

Northcentral and Northeast (NCNE):

Northern parts of PA and NJ (and beyond)


Legend (data from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

OBL (Obligate wetland): Almost always occurs in wetlands (estimated probability > 99%) under natural conditions

FACW (Facultative wetland): Usually occurs in wetlands (estimated probability 67% - 99%), but occasionally found in non-wetlands

FAC (Facultative): Equally likely to occur in wetlands (estimated probability 34% - 66%) or non-wetlands

FACU (Facultative upland): Usually occur in non-wetlands (estimated probability 67% - 99%), but occasionally found in wetlands (estimated probability 1% - 33%)

UPL (Obligate upland): Occur almost always (estimated probability > 99%) in non-wetlands under natural conditions

Taxonomic Rank

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Subclass: Commelinidae
Order: Cyperales
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Miscanthus
Subject: Miscanthus sinensis Anderss.

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