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Erianthus Michaux. Subfamily: Panicoideae. Tribe: Andropogoneae. Subtribe: Saccharinae. supertribe: Andropogonodae. clade: "PACMAD". Plumegrass.

Key to Erianthus

A genus of 9-10 species, perennials, of the New World. While Clayton & Renvoize (1986) stated that the “traditional division [of Saccharum] into awned (Erianthus) and awnless species seems wholly artificial”, Hodkinson et al. (2002) and others have developed molecular evidence which suggests that our species are not congeneric with Saccharum. It seems best to retain our species in Erianthus, following Soreng et al. (2015) and Lloyd Evans, Joshi, & Wang (2019).

Key advice:Awn twisting is best judged from dry material, either herbarium specimens or mature (and dry) material in the field. With material that is not fully dry, a good "life hack" is to leave all or part of an inflorescence on the dashboard of a car to dry. Alternatively, the awn base is terete or nearly so in species in which the awn does not twist, and is distinctly flattened in species in which the awn twists (it is the flattened portion in the lower portion of the awn that provides the mechanism for the twist).

Ref: Gandhi & Dutton (1993); Hodkinson et al. (2002); Lloyd Evans, Joshi, & Wang (2019); Soreng et al. (2015); Ward (2001); Webster (2003) In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (2003a); Webster & Shaw (1995). Show full citations.

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Hover over a shape, letter, icon, or arrow on the map for definition or see the legend. Data for arrows not developed for genera and families which may have species only occurring outside the flora area.

image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Erianthus giganteus | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Erianthus alopecuroides | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Keith Bradley | Erianthus contortus | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Erianthus strictus | Original Image ⭷

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See something wrong or missing on about Erianthus? Let us know here: (Please include your name and email if at all complicated so we can clarify if needed.) We greatly appreciate feedback, and will include updates from you in our next webapp update, which can take a few months.