A very variable tufted, perennial grass with rhizomatic underground parts ; rhizomes white, somewhat succulent, branched, extensively creeping, scaly ; culms erect, ranging from slender, filiform, dwarf forms 7.5-10 cm. high to stout, robust forms about 2.8 m. tall and 8 mm. in diam.; leaves variable, very short to 1.5 m. long, erect, linear to linear-lanceolate, flat ; panicle silver-white, dense, fluffy, silky, cylindrical 2.5-22.5 cm. or more (rarely 75 cm.) in length; grains (caryopsis) small, elliptic to oblong brown, light, loose.

Restorative, tonic and antipyretic (rhizome)

Global Invasive Species Database
Floridata
PIER
Plants for a Future

As a fumigant for piles (rhizome); for diarrhoea, dysentery and gonorrhoea (decoction of rootstocks); to stop bleeding (seeds); for cancer, colds, diarrhea, dysentery gonorrhea, myalgia, night sweats, piles, rheumatism, and tumors (plant)

Sharma PV. Classical Uses of Medicinal Plants. PV.