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Erianthus giganteus

(Walt.) P. Beauv.

Giant Plumegrass

G5Secure Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.133662
Element CodePMPOA58080
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderCyperales
FamilyPoaceae
GenusErianthus
Synonyms
Saccharum giganteum(Walt.) Pers.
Other Common Names
Sugarcane Plumegrass (EN) sugarcane plumegrass (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Taxonomic Comments
Weakley et al. (2025) treat New World plumegrasses in the genus Erianthus based on molecular evidence suggesting they are not congeneric with Saccharum. In contrast, FNA (2003, vol. 25) and Kartesz (1994) treat this species as Saccharum giganteum.
Conservation Status
Review Date1990-03-12
Change Date1990-03-12
Ecology & Habitat
Other Nations (1)
United StatesNNR
ProvinceRankNative
District of ColumbiaSNRYes
IllinoisSNRYes
VirginiaS5Yes
North CarolinaS4Yes
ArkansasSNRYes
KentuckyS4Yes
FloridaS4Yes
DelawareS5Yes
TexasSNRYes
TennesseeSNRYes
LouisianaSNRYes
AlabamaSNRYes
MissouriS1Yes
New JerseyS3Yes
South CarolinaS5Yes
PennsylvaniaSXYes
MarylandSNRYes
GeorgiaSNRYes
OklahomaS1Yes
MississippiSNRYes
Plant Characteristics
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (1)
Illinois (1)
AreaForestAcres
Burke BranchShawnee National Forest6,231
References (3)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2003a. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 25. Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Poaceae, part 2. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxv + 781 pp.
  2. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  3. Weakley, A.S., and Southeastern Flora Team. 2025. Flora of the southeastern United States Web App. Edition of February 18, 2025. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Online. Available: https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu (accessed 2025).