Sugarcane is a plant which is actually a giant grass. The stem is jointed,
3–5 m tall, 2–3 cm thick, solid juicy, the lower internodes short, swollen;
sheaths greatly overlapping, the lower usually falling from the stems. Leaf
blades elongate, mostly 4–6 cm wide, with a very thick midrib. The white
flowers appear in plumelike panicles, 20–60 cm long, the slender racemes
drooping. spikelets about 3 mm long, are obscured in a basal tuft of silky
hairs 2–3 times as long as the spikelet.
Cane sugar, cane syrup, molasses, wax, and rum are products of sugarcane.
Fresh cane stems are often chewed, especially by poorer people. The young
unexpanded inflorescence is eaten raw, steamed or toasted, and prepared in
various ways.
Identification credit: Prashant Awale
Photographed in Maharashtra.
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The flower labeled Sugarcane is ...