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"Sasa-kusa" (Lophatherum gracile) belongs to Poaceae (the Grass family). It is a perennial herb that is distributed from the Kanto region of Honshu west to Shikoku, Kyushu in Japan, the Korean Peninsula, and China. This herb grows in mountain forests and on the edges of forests, and can reach a height of 30 to 60 cm. The leaves are broad lanceolate, similar to "sasa", and are about 20 cm long. The leaves are thin and have fine serrations on the edges. From August to October, sparse spikes are borne to the tips of the stems. In Chinese medicine, it is called "Tanchiku-yo" and is used for fever reduction and diuresis.
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