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Giant Reed (Arundo)

 

Arundo donax Döll -- Poales:  Poaceae

 

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       This reed, also known as Arundo, is native to Eastern Asia but has been widely planted around the world because this plant has a variety of practical uses.  Arundo has been used for walking sticks, fishing poles, musical instruments, and recently it is being investigated as a biofuel source.  Arundo was first planted in California in the 1820’s to provide roofing materials and for erosion control in the Los Angeles Basin area.  It was also planted in other parts of the United States, Mexico, Central and South America, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Australia, and New Zealand.  In many areas it is now considered an invasive pest.

 

       Arundo grows rapidly and reaches a mature height of 25 feet in only 12 months.  An acre of arundo can produce about 25 tons of biomass per acre for each of two annual harvests.  The plant is very tolerant all kinds of weather and can be found growing in damp riparian areas, and it is tolerant of moderately saline soils.  This plant can outcompete native plants and associated animals.  Native plants cannot utilize arundo so their populations decline.  In California, Arundo infestations are particularly problematic because this weed chokes out native willows.  It can provide a lot of fuel for wildfires, which are typically very uncommon in riparian areas.  When floods occur, large rafts of dislodged  Arundo can cause bridges to collapse as tons of organic material accumulare.  In North America the weed appears to reproduce asexually and seldom produces viable seeds.

 

       A scale insect, Rhizaspidiotus donacis (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), may offer some natural control of this weed (Goolsby et al. 2009).

 

REFERENCES:

 

Ahmed, R., P. S. Liow, D. F. Spencer  & M. Jasienuk.  2008.  Molecular evidence for a single genetic clone of invasive Arundo donax in the United States.  Aquatic Botany, 88:  113-120.

 

Boland, J. M.  2006.  The importance of layering in the rapid spread of Arundo donax (giant reed).  Madrono, 53 (4):  303-312.

 

 Boose, A. B. & J. S. Holt.   1999.   Environmental effects on asexual reproduction in Arundo donax.  Weed Research, 39 (2):  117-127.

 

Finn, M., M. Harley  &  D. Minnesang.  1990.  Control of giant reed grass in a southern California riparian habitat.  Restoration and Management Notes  8:  53-54.

 

Goolsby, J. A., P. J. Moran,  J. J. Adamczyk,  A. A. Kirk,  W. A. Jones,  M. A. Marcos  &  E. Corts.   2009.   Host range of the European, rhizome-stem feeding scale Rhizaspidiotus donacis (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), a candidate biological control agent for giant reed, Arundo donax (Poales: Poaceae) in North America.  Biocontrol Science and Technology, 19 (9):  899-918.

 

Spencer, D., W. Tan, P. Liow, G. Ksander, L. Whitehand, S. Weaver, J. Olson & M. Newhouser.  2008.  Evaluation of glyphosate for managing giant reed (Arundo donax).  Journal of Invasive Plant Science and Management, 1:  248-254.

 

Witje, A. H., T. Mizutani, E. R. Motamed, M. L. Merryfield, D. E. Miller & D. E. Alexander.  2005.  Temperature and endogenous factors cause seasonal patterns in rooting by stem fragments of the invasive giant reed, Arundo donax (Poaceae).   International Journal of Plant Science, 166 (3):  507-517.