Taiwan’s many varieties of silvergrass are widely distributed, and capable of adapting to a range of environments. The international science community regards Taiwan as an important center for new-generation research into silvergrass biomass energy.

Spreading over the hills like a surging sea, waves of snowy silvergrass blossoms have become an added attraction for fall and winter bush-walkers in Taiwan.

While casual admirers may appreciate the exquisite scenes of silvergrass in blossom, few realize the unique nature of this humble weed, or appreciate the fact that Taiwan possesses the greatest distribution and range of silvergrass (Mis­can­thus) varieties in the world. For scientists who are looking to develop new forms of biomass energy, Taiwan is a virtual Treasure Island.

“Silvergrass, silvergrass grows on the hills / Blossoms in the valleys / With leaves but no branches / Standing alone / Bows down its head when the wind blows....” A Taiwanese folk song portrays silvergrass flowing over mountain ridges and running alongside riverbanks. As the birds build their nests and search for food among the silvergrass, an earlier generation of Taiwanese also enjoyed a close relationship with the plant. Farmers used the stalks to make brooms, thatch for roofs, windbreak fences, and toys for the children. The grasses were also a good source of forage, and were used as religious symbols by indigenous people to ward off evil.

Sadly, when Taiwan was industrialized, silvergrass lost its value and became simply a weed. But every dog has his day. In recent years, Western science has rediscovered the plant, which is now regarded as one of the new stars of biomass fuel. Because of its unique geography, Taiwan possesses a great variety of silvergrass species, and is playing an important role in international research.

When most people in Taiwan talk about silvergrass, they mean Mis­can­thus flor­id­ulus, which blossoms around Dragon Boat Festival, but it’s in fact only one of a range of species. There are in fact eight species and varieties in Taiwan, including M. sin­en­sis var. gla­ber, M. sin­en­sis var. for­mo­sa­nus, and M. trans­mor­ri­son­en­sis, growing in low, medium and high altitude areas respectively, and M. con­den­sa­tus, growing on Lanyu and Green Island. Another three species have been discovered but not yet confirmed.

“Silvergrass can be seen almost everywhere in Taiwan, aside from the Jia­nan Plain because of its long dry season,” says Chiang Tzen-Yuh, professor in the Department of Life Sciences, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU). Silvergrass is found mainly in East and Southeast Asia, and Taiwan and Japan have the greatest variety. Even in China’s vast lands, only a few species can be found.

Xu Zai­wen, director of He­huan­shan Experimental Station of the Council of Agriculture’s Endemic Species Research Institute, says that silvergrass is a very vigorous plant, and compared with reeds, which need a marshy environment, it will survive in almost any conditions: on river­banks, in the mountains, in arid or salty regions near the sea, in the snow or in areas ravaged by fire, and even in places polluted by heavy metals.