Thysanolaena latifolia
(Roxb. ex Hornem.) Honda
Poaceae
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
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 |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Perennial |
| Height | 3.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, 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.
,
].
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[
].
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 -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
