Saccharum spontaneum


Saccharum spontaneum is a grass native to the Indian Subcontinent. It is a perennial grass, growing up to three meters in height, with spreading rhizomatous roots.
In the Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands, a lowland ecoregion at the base of the Himalaya range in Nepal, India, Bangladesh and Bhutan, kans grass quickly colonises exposed silt plains created each year by the retreating monsoon floods, forming almost pure stands on the lowest portions of the floodplain. Kans grasslands are an important habitat for the Indian rhinoceros. In Nepal, kans grass is harvested to thatch roofs or fence vegetable gardens.
Elsewhere, its ability to quickly colonize disturbed soil has allowed it to become an invasive species that takes over croplands and pasturelands.

Uses

Saccharum spontaneum has a considerable number of regional names in the Indian Subcontinent, for instance kash being common in Bengali/Bangla . It is used in Ayurveda.