4.2 Cellulosic materials
The structural integrity of non-woody (i.e. herbaceous) plants is provided mainly by cellulose, which is a major component of the straw and other supporting tissues of all the major food crops.
The most common cellulosic bioenergy crop for temperate climates is the tall grass miscanthus.
Other common plants that may be suited to production of cellulosic biomass are:
- bracken
- Gunnera
- kelp
- water hyacinth.
What other crops can be used? You’ll find out in the next section.