Broom grass (Thysanolaena latifolia)

Rumput sapu or broom grass (Thysanolaena latifolia) is a species of plant in Poaceae, grows perennial in clumps, upright stems and curves downward to lie down in the center, is green, grows on slopes, flowers in panicles are collected and used to make brooms.

T. latifolia lives chronically in clumps, stems erect, 200-400 cm high, hard, unbranched and curved. A solid and strong reed was not hollow. The ligula is a hairless membrane, 1-2 mm long and rompang.

The leaves are elongated, lanceolate-oblong like hides, sharp edges, stiff and crispy, 30-60 cm long, 3-7 cm wide, green, clearly visible cross-veins and a transverse stamp print in the middle

The flowers are collected in large, open panicles at the tips of the stems, oval or ovate, 30-60 cm long and 15-30 cm wide. The main branches in each node, the axis has short hair, the lower part is free of spikelets, the lowest branches are up to 30 cm and the stalk is 2 mm. Single or paired spikelet and 1.5-1.8 mm. Kariopsis oblong and 0.5 mm.

Broom grass grows in semi-open areas, clustered or associated with clusters of trees or bamboo forests on hilly slopes, cliffs and furrows, between rocks, shrubs, forest edges, grasslands, river banks at an altitude of 300-2000 meters.

Rumput sapu is deliberately planted on steep slopes to prevent erosion and landslides. The young leaves are used as a mixture of animal feed, panicles are used in the manufacture of brooms and are often grown as ornamental plants.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Panicoideae
Tribe: Thysanolaeneae
Genus: Thysanolaena
Species: Thysanolaena latifolia

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