Saccharum spontaneum/Wild sugarcane/Kans grass

Description:

It is a perennial grass, growing up to three meters in height, often with aggressive rhizomes. It grows in tropical and sub-tropical areas. The swamps, saline swamps, river banks, deserts, jungles, and the low slopes of the Himalayas are the best place for kans grass. It produces narrow, flat leaves and stems which are culm and erect. The flower occurs in the season of Autumn or mainly after rain. Kans flower disposes in large, silky-white, much and densely branched panicles, with spreading fragile branches and spikes. Its caryopses are dispersed by wind.


Use and Benefits:

1. It has been used in the breeding of sugarcane, as it provides vigour, hardiness and resistance to many major diseases.

2. Plants are used for hedging or screening, thus it contains ornamental values.

3. It is also used for decoration, thatching, making ropes and as fodder.

4. It controls and prevents soil erosion by its extensive rhizome roots which makes it a very efficient binder of soils.

5. In form it is highly variable.

6. It may helps in kidney's problem and blood impurity.

7. It may also be use for good fodder for goats and camels.

8. The white flower against the green, gives pleasant to our eyes and therefore it also a happy reminder of the festive season.

Kash phool/ Kans grass: Plant Description and Its uses

                                      Kash Phool

It is also known as wild sugar cane, or Kans grass.Kans grass is a grass native to South Asia. It is a perennial grass, growing up to three meters in height, with spreading rhizomatous roots. Leaves are harsh and linear, 6 to 15 mm wide, which are white and erect, measuring 15-30 cm long, with slender and whorled branches, the joints covered with soft white hair. The grownd of kash look like white cloud.

In bengal, the appearance of Kans grass, Kash Phool feels heavenly, not only because it so lovely, the white against the green, but it is also a happy reminder that the festive season is about to begin.

Kash phool brings with it a change in weather, it starts to get a bit pleasant after the monsoonal downpour. Earlier, with so many open fields, one could get a glimpse of Kash any where.


Botanical name: Saccharum spontaneum

Family: Poaceae

Life cycle: Perennial

Plant height : 2-8 ft

Leaf Colour: Green

Flower Colour: White

Temperature: 20-30°C

Light: Full sun/ half sun

Soil: Loamy soil

Climate : Tropical, subtropical

Advantage: Easy to grow


Uses:

• It is used to promote milk in breastfeeding mothers and as a diuretic. The top parts of the plant is used for blood disorders, hemorrhages and biliousness among other things. 
• It is used in ayurveda.