Saccharum edule
Hassk.
Poaceae
Saccharum spontaneum edule (Hassk.) K.Schum.
Common Name: Lowland Pitpit
General Information
Lowland pitpit is a vigorous, perennial grass forming large clumps that usually reach 1.5 - 4 metres in height[
]. The inflorescences are abnormal in the sense that they remain enclosed within the leaf-sheaths, forming a compact mass about the size of a banana.[
]
The plant is cultivated in tropical Asia for the edible flowering stems. These are often sold in local markets and are sometimes canned as a commercial crop[
339- Title
- Agroforestry in the Pacific Islands: Systems for Sustainability
- Publication
-
- Author
- W.C. Clarke and R.R. Thaman (Editors)
- Website
- http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/80824e/80824E00.htm#Contents
- Publisher
- United Nations University Press, Tokyo
- Year
- 1993
- ISBN
- 92-808-0824-9
- Description
- The guide includes information on 100 species of plants for Agroforestry. It is also available on the web at the address given above.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
Originated in cultivation.
Habitat
Not known as a wild plant, it is common in garden areas in the Pacific and is widely naturalized, often in extensive stands; common in poorly drained valley bottoms, alluvial plains, or low-lying sites[
339- Title
- Agroforestry in the Pacific Islands: Systems for Sustainability
- Publication
-
- Author
- W.C. Clarke and R.R. Thaman (Editors)
- Website
- http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/80824e/80824E00.htm#Contents
- Publisher
- United Nations University Press, Tokyo
- Year
- 1993
- ISBN
- 92-808-0824-9
- Description
- The guide includes information on 100 species of plants for Agroforestry. It is also available on the web at the address given above.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 3.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated |
Cultivation Details
A plant of the tropics, found from sea level to elevations around 2,000 metres[
]. It grows best in areas where the mean annual temperature is within the range 20 - 30°c, though it can tolerate 12 - 38°c[
]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,500 - 3,000mm, but tolerates 1,000 - 5,000mm[
].
Prefers a sunny position[
]. Succeeds in most soils, growing best in fertile conditions[
]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6, but can tolerate 4.5 - 6.5[
].
The first harvest can be taken 5 - 10 months after planting out[
].
The economic lifetime of each clump is about 2 - 3 years[
].
The yield is probably 3 - 5 tonnes per hectare[
].
Edible Uses
The flowering stems can be eaten raw, or cooked in a variety of ways such as roasted, steamed, added to soups, made into curries etc[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
,
339- Title
- Agroforestry in the Pacific Islands: Systems for Sustainability
- Publication
-
- Author
- W.C. Clarke and R.R. Thaman (Editors)
- Website
- http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/80824e/80824E00.htm#Contents
- Publisher
- United Nations University Press, Tokyo
- Year
- 1993
- ISBN
- 92-808-0824-9
- Description
- The guide includes information on 100 species of plants for Agroforestry. It is also available on the web at the address given above.
]. When properly prepared, they can be used as a substitute for cauliflower[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
]. The flowering stems are abnormal in the sense that they remain enclosed within the leaf-sheaths, forming a compact mass about the size of a banana[
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
