Sugar cane
Sugar cane
Sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum) is a tropical, perennial grass that forms lateral shoots at the base to produce multiple stems, typically three to four meters high and about five cm in diameter. The stems grow into cane stalk, which when mature constitutes around 75% of the entire plant.
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈʃʊɡər keɪn/
Etymology
The term "sugar cane" is derived from the Old French sukere (sugar) and the Latin canna (cane).
Description
A mature sugar cane stalk is typically composed of 11–16% fiber, 12–16% soluble sugars, 2–3% non-sugars, and 63–73% water. The sugar cane plant is known for its high sugar content, which is extracted through a process of milling and boiling.
Cultivation and Production
Sugar cane is cultivated in over 100 countries, with a global harvest of 1.9 billion tons. The largest producer of sugar cane is Brazil, followed by India. Sugar cane is used to produce a variety of products, including sugar, molasses, and ethanol.
Related Terms
- Sucrose: The primary product of sugar cane, a type of sugar.
- Molasses: A byproduct of the sugar-making process.
- Ethanol: A type of alcohol produced from sugar cane.
- Bagasse: The fibrous matter that remains after sugar cane stalks are crushed to extract their juice.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Sugar cane
- Wikipedia's article - Sugar cane
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