Poaceae

Arundo donax

Common Names: Giant reed

Plant Form: Very tall grass. Size: Up to 8 m tall. Stem: Large and somewhat woody, sometimes 2 cm diameter, bamboo like. Leaves: Sheathed initially, but blades are up to 1 m long when mature, lance shaped. Flowers: Erect, plume loosely, spreading, and fluffy 30-70 cm long. Beige or light brown. Fruit and Seeds: Reproduces via rhizomes. Habitat: Along riverbanks and beside lakes, swamps, roadsides, urban bushland. Distinguishing Features: Taller than Common reed (Phragmites australis), with wider leaves than Elephant grass (Cenchrus purpureus). Impacts: Prevents waterway accesss, inedible to stock, aggressively outcompetes native species, increases fire risk.