Botany
Coarse, erect grass growing to a height of 1.5 to 3.5 meters. Stems are cylindrical and hollow, about 1 cm in diameter. Leaves areflat and linear, up to 50 cm long, 2.5 cm wide. Pannicles arelarge, terminal, plume-like, nodding, 30-50 cm long, brownish, dense with many flowers.

Distribution
Widely distributed in the Philippines at low and medium altitudes.
Abundant in swamps and muddy streams/
Cultivated for commercial use.
Chemical constituents and properties
Root has 5% protein; 1% fat;; 51% carbohydrate; 1.54% ash and 0.1% asparigin.
Considered diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, stomachic, sudorific.

Parts utilized
Roots, leaves

Uses
Nutrition
Young shoots may be eaten raw or cooked and eaten like labong (bamboo sprouts).
Unfolded leaves used as potherb.
In Japan, grounded dry young leaves, mixed with cereal flour in making dumplings.
Folkloric
The roots and sprouts are cooling and diuretic.
In China, tender sprouts and rhizomes used medicinally.
Reported folk medicine for condylomata, indurated breast, breast cancer, leukemia.
Used for abscesses, arthritis, bronchits, cough, cholera, gout fever, hiccups, rheumatism. source
Ash of leaves used for foul sores.
Decoction of flowers used for cholera and food poisoning.
Mixed with gypsum for halitosis and toothache.
Others
In the Philippines, dust brooms are made from the pannicles.
The hardy stems are used as firewood.
Where bamboo is not available, used for roofing ribs.
Culms used for pen handles.
Makes first-class paper, but difficult to bleach.
Mouth pieces for musical instruments (clarinets, etc.)

Availability
Wild-crafted.