Hymenachne
Hymenachne is a genus of widespread wetlands plants that is in the grass family. They may be known commonly as marsh grasses. They are distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, the Americas, and the Pacific Islands. A species from the Americas, H. amplexicaulis, is well known in other parts of the world as an introduced and invasive species.
Hymenachne is similar to genus Sacciolepis. Both were formerly considered part of Panicum.
Hymenachne aquatic plants frequently found in marshes and other wet habitats. Their stems are spongy with aerenchyma tissue. The longest stems can reach 4 meters. They are perennial, sometimes with rhizomes. The leaves are linear or lance-shaped. The inflorescence is usually a cylindrical, spike-shaped panicle, rarely with branches.Diversity
; Accepted species
- Hymenachne amplexicaulis - West Indian marsh grass, olive hymenachne - West Indies; Latin America from Mexico to Uruguay; naturalized in Australia, parts of Asia, Florida
- Hymenachne assamica - China, Assam, Myanmar, Thailand
- Hymenachne donacifolia - Cuba, Puerto Rico, Trinidad; Latin America from Honduras to Paraguay
- Hymenachne grumosa - Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina
- Hymenachne patens - China
- Hymenachne pernambucense - Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina
- Hymenachne wombaliensis - Zaïre
; formerly included
see Panicum Pennisetum Sacciolepis
