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Grass Gallery

Poaceae, Arundinoideae, Arundineae - Reeds

(Family, Subfamily, Tribe)

Waves of Grain Index - Grass

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tribe Arundineae

Giant Reed (Spanish Reed) Arundo donax

Hollow woody clums grows 15-30 feet tall, 3/4"-1 1/4" wide.  Alternating leaves, 1-2 feet long, up to 2" wide, hairy tuft at base.  Upright inflorescence is a large silky tuft, white, 16"-24" long, mid summer.  Dense colonies form from rhizomes that reach 3 feet deep.  New plants are produced by planting a 2" stem or rhizome containing a node.  Used as an ornamental and to make woodwind musical instruments.  It is one of the fastest growing terrestrial plants.  Very invasive and a water hog.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas,  September 2007

(Introduced, native of Eurasia, worldwide - Brown)

Similar Species

Common Reed Phragmites australis

Hollow woody clums grows 6-18 feet tall.  Leaves, 20" long, about 1" wide.  Drooping inflorescence is a large feathery tuft, dark purple turning grayish, 8"-20" long, mid summer.  New plants are produced by planting a 2" stem or rhizome containing a node.  Used for thatched roofs, boats, paper, spears, and mats.  It helps clean waters of contaminates.

(Native of Texas, worldwide - not in my area)

 

 

Also see:

Bamboo & Cane     Horsetail     Pampasgrass     Rush

 

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