giant reed

Plants: Grass or Grasslike
Liliopsida > Cyperales > Poaceae > Arundo donax L.
Synonym(s): elephant grass; wild cane; cana brava; carrizo
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.

92 records

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Image Descriptor Description Photographer
5306067 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
5387495 Feature(s)

vegetatively reproducing from stem fragment.

Joseph M. DiTomaso
5387493 Feature(s)

Second-year branching pattern of giant reed

Joseph M. DiTomaso
0016141 Feature(s) in June James H. Miller
1334109 Feature(s) Clasping leaf bases. Tift County, GA Chris Evans
1334110 Feature(s) Clasping leaf bases. Tift County, GA Chris Evans
1334111 Feature(s) Clasping leaf base. Tift County, GA Chris Evans
1461062 Feature(s) Leaf collar region Amy Ferriter
1461063 Flower(s) Amy Ferriter
1334112 Flower(s) Large flower/seed head (1-3 feet in length). Tift County, GA Chris Evans
1334114 Flower(s) Shown with pen for size comparison. Tift County, GA Chris Evans
2132033 Flower(s) David J. Moorhead
5391910 Flower(s) John M. Randall
5391911 Flower(s)

Flowering culm

John M. Randall
5391912 Flower(s)

Flowering plants

John M. Randall
5387492 Flower(s)

inflorescence. No viable seed are produced.

Joseph M. DiTomaso
5403713 Flower(s) Karan A. Rawlins
5403717 Flower(s) Karan A. Rawlins
5405051 Flower(s) Karan A. Rawlins
5405047 Foliage Karan A. Rawlins
5391566 Foliage

variegated

Barry Rice
5345078 Foliage David J. Moorhead
5345036 Foliage David J. Moorhead
5345037 Foliage David J. Moorhead
0016144 Foliage leaves and stem closeup in June James H. Miller
5306068 Fruit(s) Steve Hurst
5387489 Habitat

adjacent to riparian area

Joseph M. DiTomaso
5387490 Infestation

within stream.

Joseph M. DiTomaso
5387491 Infestation

along roadside.

Joseph M. DiTomaso
5345038 Infestation David J. Moorhead
5345029 Infestation David J. Moorhead
5391908 Infestation

...about to get lost!

John M. Randall
5391909 Infestation

Along a river

John M. Randall
5391916 Infestation

With scientists...

John M. Randall
5391917 Infestation

From above

John M. Randall
5391918 Infestation

From above

John M. Randall
5391913 Infestation

Landscape invasion

John M. Randall
5391906 Infestation

landscape

John M. Randall
0016142 Infestation along roadside in July James H. Miller
1461096 Infestation Amy Ferriter
2125084 Infestation Stand growing back after being bulldozed Chris Evans
2125085 Infestation Stand growing back after being bulldozed Chris Evans
5163030 Infestation habit Forest & Kim Starr
5163031 Infestation habit Forest & Kim Starr
5163032 Infestation habit Forest & Kim Starr
5163033 Infestation habit Forest & Kim Starr
2189004 Infestation Chris Evans
2189005 Infestation Chris Evans
2189006 Infestation Chris Evans
2189007 Infestation Wendy VanDyk Evans
2189008 Infestation Wendy VanDyk Evans
2189009 Infestation Wendy VanDyk Evans
2189010 Infestation Wendy VanDyk Evans
5403712 Infestation Karan A. Rawlins
5405046 Plant(s) Karan A. Rawlins
5405048 Plant(s) Karan A. Rawlins
5405049 Plant(s) Karan A. Rawlins
5405050 Plant(s) Karan A. Rawlins
5405053 Plant(s) Karan A. Rawlins
5405054 Plant(s) Karan A. Rawlins
2307180 Plant(s) July James H. Miller
2307181 Plant(s) December James H. Miller
2307183 Plant(s) August James H. Miller
2307184 Plant(s) November James H. Miller
5159064 Plant(s) habit Forest & Kim Starr
5159069 Plant(s) habit in gulch Forest & Kim Starr
5159070 Plant(s) habit Forest & Kim Starr
5276053 Plant(s) Tony Pernas
5276054 Plant(s) Tony Pernas
1237029 Plant(s) Large plants in September Chuck Bargeron
1299128 Plant(s) Margarita River; Camp Pendelton, California John M. Randall
1461061 Plant(s) Amy Ferriter
2135085 Plant(s) Barbara Tokarska-Guzik
2135086 Plant(s) Barbara Tokarska-Guzik
2135087 Plant(s) Barbara Tokarska-Guzik
2135089 Plant(s) Barbara Tokarska-Guzik
2135090 Plant(s) Barbara Tokarska-Guzik
2155042 Plant(s) John D. Byrd
2155043 Plant(s) John D. Byrd
5403204 Plant(s)

infestation

Karan A. Rawlins
5403233 Plant(s) Karan A. Rawlins
5403234 Plant(s) Karan A. Rawlins
5391915 Plant(s)

Stalking Mandy

John M. Randall
0016140 Plant(s) whole plants with infertile seedheads in November James H. Miller
5341057 Plant(s) John M. Randall
5345028 Plant(s) David J. Moorhead
5391903 Plant(s)

It is big!

John M. Randall
5391905 Plant(s)

Mountainside

John M. Randall
5405045 Site

Arlington, UTA campus

Karan A. Rawlins
5391907 Stem(s)

Leaf sheaths

John M. Randall
5387494 Stem(s)

collar and sheath region.

Joseph M. DiTomaso
5391914 Stem(s)

Woody shoots!

John M. Randall


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