Saccharum
Saccharum
Saccharum (pronunciation: /səˈkɛərəm/), also known as sugar cane, is a large, strong-growing genus of plants in the grass family, native to warm temperate to tropical regions of the world. The etymology of the word "Saccharum" is derived from the Greek word "sakcharon", meaning "sugar".
Description
Saccharum includes the sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum) and several other species. They are tall perennial grasses that grow mainly in the tropics and subtropics. The stems are jointed and hard, with a high sugar content.
Species
There are about six species of Saccharum:
- Saccharum officinarum (Sugar cane)
- Saccharum spontaneum (Wild sugar cane)
- Saccharum robustum (Robust cane)
- Saccharum sinense (Chinese cane)
- Saccharum barberi (Indian cane)
- Saccharum edule (Edible canna)
Uses
Saccharum officinarum, the sugar cane, is grown commercially for sugar production. The stems are crushed to extract the juice, which is then concentrated into sugar. Other species are used for thatching, fodder, and in traditional medicine.
Related Terms
- Sucrose: The type of sugar that is extracted from Saccharum officinarum.
- Photosynthesis: The process by which Saccharum and other plants convert light energy into chemical energy.
- Perennial plant: A term describing plants like Saccharum that live for more than two years.
- Tropics: The warm regions of the Earth where Saccharum plants are native.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Saccharum
- Wikipedia's article - Saccharum
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