Download Thysanolaena latifol..

Fibre: stem, flower / Food: shoots / Fodder: whole / Ornamental: whole
Thysanolaena maxima (Roxb.) O. Ktze.
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Synonyms: T. latifolia (Roxb. ex Hornem.) Honda., T. agrostis Nees, T. acarifera Arn. et Nees, Myriachata arundinacea
Zoll. et Mor, M. glauca Mor., Melica latifolia Roxb. ex Hornem, Agrostis maxima Roxb., Panicum acariferum Trin.
Family: POACEAE or GRAMINAE
Other names: Local names: khem khong, yaa yung, dok khein, Phou Noy: bong kha
ching, Lao Sung: tau khaou thuwa. Thai: thong kong, lao laeng, yaa yung, yaa mai kuat,
yaa karb phai. Vietnamese: dot, dong trung hoa thao, cay le, ong anh, say. English: Tiger
grass, broom grass.
Remarks: A potential species as a source of feed for cattle in highland areas. In northern
Vietnam Lepidoptera larvae residing in the stems are consumed by people.
Use: Broom grass stems/flowers are used to produce brooms. Young shoots and seeds
are sometimes eaten by people. Broom grass is also a fodder for cows and buffalo. As a
decorative plant broom grass is planted along fence lines. Possible for paper pulp?
Active ingredients:
Harvesting: Large inflorescences, of plants 2 years and older, are cut for their maximal
lengths. Flowering stems should harvested within 1 month otherwise they become too old.
Yields, densities: Natural occurring tiger grass in Oudomxai counted ca. 50 clumps/ha.
Local people can harvest 10-15 kg/person per trip, making 2 trips/day.
Access rules: Natural, open access with no management rules.
Sustainability: Harvesting is destructive to the plant, but the large regeneration makes up
for that. It takes 1 year to grow.
Conservation status: Common.
Processing: Flowering stems are sun dried for 3-5 days. Seeds are removed by threshing and bundled for storage until
producing brooms. 1 kg of flowering grass produces 2 brooms, 1 person can make 5-10 brooms/day. They can be stored for
many years.
Quality criteria: Long, full flowers are preferred, clean and unbroken nor damaged by insects.
Marketing: Broom grass price has almost doubled between 1996-1999. In that period
Luang Phrabang Province exported to Thailand 320 tonnes unprocessed dry flowers per
year at US$0.1-0.4/kg (also in 2004). In 2000, 200 ton/year was exported. Most brooms
made in Laos are locally sold, with the price varying from location and quality. Local
producers sell grass for US$0.06/kg, and brooms at US$0.25, after and at the provincial
market for US$0.60 (2000, in Oudomxai). In Phou Khao Khouay NBCA a family may earn
up to US$200-300 per year. Broom grass is the second most important NTFP exported.
Market prospects: One family in Champasak received an annual income of US$1,200 in
1999 by involving family members full time. Broom making seems to be a sustainable
business; even in Bangkok brooms are common household item.
Propagation: Propagation is possible by rooted
culms, rhizomes and seeds. Planting from root cuttings spaced in holes of 40 cm
deep, 1-2 m. apart. Broom grass is easy to plant, best propagated naturally. A strong
fence is needed to keep out cattle. It takes 3-4 years for the plants to establish. In the
first years, 1 annual weeding and cleaning are sufficient. After 3 years flowering
starts. In the north broom grass occurs naturally on fallow lands. In Bachiang district,
Champasak province households plant broom grass gardens to sell dried grass and
produce brooms. In fallowed swidden of more than 3 years of age, tiger grass can
hardly be found.
Description: Perennial tufted herb 3-4 m high. Leaf simple, alternate, thick and hard,
linear, 4-7 cm wide, 25-55 cm long, margins serrated, apex acute, base rounded. Leaf sheaths glabrous, dark red colour.
Terminal inflorescence, drooping panicle, up to 140 cm long, 0.5-1 cm thick. Two flower sheaths. Fruit ovate, dark reddishbrown.
Distribution & Ecology: Broom grass is found in many countries: India, China, Burma, Thai, Lao, Vietnam, Cambodia,
Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines. In Lao PDR it is mainly found in the northern provinces, but also elsewhere. Broom
grass grows well on fallow lands, in valleys and lightly shaded slopes, in ravines and on river banks. It grows mostly solitarily
or in small groups and not in full sunlight. In light shade seedlings grow slow at first, until able to compete with other small
plants.
References: PROSEA, INTFP01, NTFPCP00, NTFPPR04, SINTFP03, FEOC00, NTFPGR04, PMC, BKF, TPN, VILAY,
IBP98, SEF04, LSUAFRP1/2.