giant reed: Arundo donax (Cyperales: Poaceae)

giant reed
Cyperales > Poaceae > Arundo donax L.
Synonym(s): elephant grass
Giant reed is a perennial grass that can reach up to 20 ft. (6.1 m) in height. The stem resembles a corn stalk and has long, flat leaves up to 1.5 ft. (0.5 m) long. Flowering occurs in late summer to early fall, when plants are most easily recognized because of the large, dense flower plumes that develop at the tops of the culms. The plums can grow up to 3 ft. (0.9 m) in length. Giant reed invades wetlands such as ditches, stream banks and lake shores. Giant reed can completely suppress and remove native vegetation very easily, which reduces wildlife habitat, increases fire risks and interferes with flood control. Giant reed is native to India and was introduced into the United States in the early 1800s for ornamental purposes.

Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources

Element Stewardship Abstract - The Nature Conservancy

Fire Effects Information System - USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station

Invasive Plants of Asian Origin Established in the United States and Their Natural Enemies - Volume 2 - USDA Forest Service

Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests - USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station

Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas - National Park Service & U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Prescriptions for Specific Nonnative Invasive Plants - USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station

Weeds Gone Wild Fact Sheets - Plant Conservation Alliance's Alien Plant Working Group

Weeds of the Week - USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, Forest Health Protection

Selected Images from Invasive.org

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Feature(s); Clasping leaf bases. Tift County, GA Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Feature(s); in June James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Foliage; leaves and stem closeup in June James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Infestation; Stand growing back after being bulldozed Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Infestation; David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Infestation; David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Foliage; David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Foliage; David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Flower(s); Shown with pen for size comparison. Tift County, GA Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Flower(s); David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Plant(s); whole plants with infertile seedheads in November James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Plant(s); Large plants in September Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Plant(s); John D. Byrd, Mississippi State University, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Infestation; Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Plant(s); John M. Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Plant(s); December James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Fruit(s); Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Diagram or Graphic; Hitchcock, A.S. (rev. A. Chase). 1950. Manual of the grasses of the United States. USDA Misc. Publ. No. 200. Washington, DC. USDA PLANTS Database, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024

Invasive Reference(s):

Check Invasive.org for most current lists.

Alabama - IPC List
California - Invasive Plant Inventory
Georgia - EPPC list
Nevada - Noxious Weed Law
South Carolina - EPPC List
Tennessee - EPPC List
Texas - Invasive Plant List
Virginia - Invasive Alien Plant Species
Mid-Atlantic - EPPC List
Invasive Plants: Western North America
Invasive Plants: Guide to Identification and the Impacts and Control of Common North American Species
Invasive Plant Atlas of the Mid-South

External Links


				Bargeron, C.T., C.R. Minteer, C.W. Evans, D.J. Moorhead, G.K. Douce and R.C. Reardon. Technical Coordinators. 2008. Invasive Plants of the United States DVD-ROM: Identification, Biology and Control. USDA Forest Service. Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. Morgantown, WV. FHTET-08-11.