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Useful Tropical Plants

Thysanolaena latifolia

(Roxb. ex Hornem.) Honda

Poaceae

+ Synonyms

Agrostis latifolia Heyne ex Bor

Agrostis maxima Roxb.

Agrostis scoparia J.König ex Bor

Melica latifolia Roxb.

Myriachaeta arundinacea Zoll. & Moritzi

Myriachaeta glauca Moritzi ex Steud.

Panicum acariferum Trin.

Sporobolus gigas (Steud.) Miq.

Sporobolus scoparius J.Presl

Thysanolaena acarifera (Trin.) Arn. & Nees

Thysanolaena agrostis Nees

Thysanolaena assamensis Gand.

Thysanolaena birmanica Gand.

Thysanolaena malaccensis Gand.

Thysanolaena maxima (Roxb.) Kuntze

Thysanolaena sikkimensis Gand.

Vilfa gigas Steud.

Vilfa scoparia (J.Presl) Steud.

Common Name: Asian Broom Grass

Thysanolaena latifolia
Cultivated plant
Photograph by: 1998-2002 Earthcare Enterprises
Creative Commons License
Thysanolaena latifolia Thysanolaena latifolia Thysanolaena latifolia Thysanolaena latifolia

General Information

Asian broom grass is an evergreen, clump-forming grass with bamboo-like culms 2 - 4 metres tall.
The plant is commonly used to make a light dust brush which is extensively sold in local markets[
589
Title
Leaflets of Philippine Botany Vol. 10.
Publication
 
Author
Elmer A.D.E. (Editor)
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
 
Year
1939
ISBN
 
Description
Various plant articles. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. It is also cultivated as a hedge or screen, and is also grown as an ornamental[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.

Range

E. Asia - southern China, Japan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia.

Habitat

Valleys and lightly shaded slopes; ravines; river banks; forest margins; open grasslands. Usually in association with trees (often bamboo forests), solitarily or in small groups, not in full sunlight; at elevations from 150 - 2,000 metres[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Properties

Other Uses Rating *  *  *  *
HabitEvergreen Perennial
Height3.00 m
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details


Requires a rich soil and a position in full sun[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is frequently grown to provide screening and hedges[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
].

Other Uses

The flowering panicles are used to make light, dust brooms[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. The panicles are harvested after flowering[
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
].
In the Philippines a very characteristic, light dust broom is made of the panicles of this grass[
345
Title
Minor Products of Philippine Forests
Publication
 
Author
Brown. W. H.
Publisher
Bureau of Forestry, Manilla.
Year
1920
ISBN
 
Description
A useful guide to some of the plants of the area, though terse on details. The book is out of copyright and can be legally downloaded from the Internet.
]. These brooms are extensively used for sweeping the highly polished hardwood floors so characteristic of the better houses in the Philippines. The panicles of this species are considered to make the best grade of these brooms, and for this purpose they are gathered extensively in some parts of the Islands. The handles of the brooms are made of the flowering stems variously interwoven or bound together, the panicles being arranged in a fan-like fashion to form the broom itself. The brooms are decidedly pretty and very effective for their special purpose[
345
Title
Minor Products of Philippine Forests
Publication
 
Author
Brown. W. H.
Publisher
Bureau of Forestry, Manilla.
Year
1920
ISBN
 
Description
A useful guide to some of the plants of the area, though terse on details. The book is out of copyright and can be legally downloaded from the Internet.
]. Thysanolaena brooms are more durable than those made from Phragmites and command a higher price[
345
Title
Minor Products of Philippine Forests
Publication
 
Author
Brown. W. H.
Publisher
Bureau of Forestry, Manilla.
Year
1920
ISBN
 
Description
A useful guide to some of the plants of the area, though terse on details. The book is out of copyright and can be legally downloaded from the Internet.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Thysanolaena%20latifolia>

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