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Giant Reed - Arundo donax
Family: Poaceae

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TPIUC

Description

Giant reed is a perennial clump-forming grass that can attain heights of 7-8 meters. The leaves are chiefly cauline, long tapering to a sharply acute tip. The blades are flat 2-6 cm wide with scabrous margins. The ligule is membranous and minutely ciliate. The panicles are large and plumy and may reach a length of 30-70 cm. Long hairs on the lemmas give the plumes a feathery appearance.

Interesting facts

Giant reed grows rapidly and can readily propagate from rhizomes, thereby forming tall dense stands. Fertile caryopsis seldom develop. The grass commonly invades areas along streambeds.

Giant reed easily displaces native species and forms monospecific stands along waterways. These monocultures consume more water than native plants, create flood-control problems, and the large biomass that dies back each season creates a fire hazard.

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Links to more information

US Army Corp Noxious Plant Database

Website, video, and graphics by Rob Nelson
For more information on this plant or management please contact US Army Corp of Engineers

 
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