Arundo donax L., Poaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results: 

High risk, score: 12 (Go to the risk assessment (Pacific)).
Reject, score: 11 (Go to the risk assessment (U.S.)).
Reject, score: 11 (Go to the risk assessment (U.S.(Florida))).

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: lu zhu

English: Spanish reed, bamboo reed, giant reed, green bamboo reed, wild cane

Fijian: ngasau ni vavalangi

French: canne de Provence, grand roseau

Samoan: ‘ofe, ‘ofe teu fale, fiso pālagi

Spanish: caña común, caña de Castilla, caña de la reina, caña de techar, carrizo

Tongan: kaho, kaho f333; lalahi, kaho pāpālangi

Habit:  grass

Description:  "Large perennials; culms erect or arching, up to 8 m tall, unbranched or branched above, arising from thick, scaly rhizomes, nodes glabrous, usually concealed, internodes hollow, up to 4 cm in diameter.  Leaves strongly distichous, distributed rather uniformly along culm except on old stems; sheaths longer than internodes and strongly overlapping, glaucous, glabrous to sometimes sparsely long-villous at throat; ligule a thin, whitish or brownish, minutely ciliate membrane, 1-1.5 mm long; blades thick and coriaceous, 45-60 cm long, 4-6 cm wide, glabrous, glaucous, striate, margins scabrous, leaf bases broader than sheaths, with prominent, triangular, brownish flanges, ciliate along margins.  Inflorescences paniculate, ovoid, 40-70 cm long, plumose, dense, the branches stiffly ascending; spikelets densely clustered along secondary or tertiary branches, 13-17 mm long, 4-5 flowered, rachilla glabrous; glumes hyaline, brownish or purplish, 11-13 mm long, narrow, acuminate, scabrous on the indistinct keel; lemmas membranous, lanceolate-ovate, 8-15 mm long, tapering to a short straight awn arising between 2 delicate lateral teeth, 3-7-nerved, usually 3 major ones anastomosing with midnerve, lower portions on dorsal surface of lemma heavily bearded with long silky whitish hairs, the hairs 8-10 mm long; palea whitish, membranous, 5-10 mm long, ca 1/2 as long as lemma, scabrid on keels and pubescent near base between them, hyaline, truncate.  Caryopsis elongate, 1-1.5 mm long" (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 1498-1499).

"Grande herbacée pérenne dressée, formant des touffes denses atteignant 2 à 8 m de hauteur, reconnaissable à son allure de canne ou de bambou, à ses tiges de 1 à 4 cm de diamètre portant des feuilles de couleur vert-pâle avec de grands lobes basaux et à sa grande inflorescence (30 à 60 cm de long) dressée de couleur crème à brune" (Meyer, 2008; p. 31).

Habitat/ecology:  In moist areas, such as along ditches and riverbanks.  "Once established, giant reed can form huge clones, sometimes covering hundreds of acres.  It is highly flammable and resprouts quickly after burning.  Fires help transform communities of native plants into solid stands of giant reed, changing riverbank forests from flood- to fire-defined habitats" (Randall, et al., 1996).

In Hawai‘i, "naturalized in coastal areas, often in thickets" (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 1498-1499).  In Fiji, widespread on hillsides, in open forest, and along roadsides, up to about 200 m (Smith, 1979; pp. 299-300). In New Caledonia, "parfois planté, notamment pour stabiliser les talus des routes. Largement répandu à l'état spontané" (MacKee, 1994; p. 56).  "In Chile this species grows in the following environmental conditions:  Low altitude, interior valleys; coastal mountains, 500-2000 m; coastal areas, 0-500 m.  Humid areas, with almost constant rainfall, short dry periods are possible (generally not longer than 1 month).  Fully exposed to the sun, level areas or slopes facing north"  (Chileflora).

Propagation:  Rhizomes; fragments of stems, often carried by water.

Native range:  Tropical Asia and the Mediterranean region, now widely naturalized in warm temperate to tropical areas.

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Norfolk Islands	Norfolk Island	introduced invasive	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1994) (p. 11) Vouchers cited: W.R. Sykes NI 621 (CHR), 1962, P. Ralston s.n.(CHR)
Chile (offshore islands) Rapa Nui (Easter) Island	Rapa Nui (Easter) Island (Isla de Pasqua)	introduced invasive cultivated	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2008) (pp. 31, 41) "Nous l’avons observée plantée au village de Hanga Roa et naturalisée dans le fond du cratère de Rano Kau où elle forme des touffes denses mais localisées" (Meyer, 2008; p. 31).
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced invasive cultivated	Atkinson, Rachel/Sawyer, John (2011) "One plant".
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced cultivated	Danton, Philippe/Perrier, Christophe/Martinez Reyes, Guido (2006) (pp. 475, 521, 551) Voucher cited: Danton I(5/360)1704
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 64)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1929) (voucher ID: BISH 122231) Taxon name on voucher: Arundo donax L.
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Floreana Group	Floreana Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Isabela Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008) Observed in survey, no herbarium record.
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008) Observed in survey, no herbarium record.
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 31)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 54) Voucher cited: S.F. Glassman 2521 (BISH) Invasive
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1949) (voucher ID: BISH 122237) Taxon name on voucher: Arundo donax L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 299-300) Vouchers cited: DA 10826, Degener 15170, DA 16809, DA 7955, DA 7589, Wilder 1232
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1969) (voucher ID: BISH 31631) Taxon name on voucher: Arundo donax L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1969) (voucher ID: BISH 31632) Taxon name on voucher: Arundo donax L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1960) (voucher ID: BISH 31633) Taxon name on voucher: Arundo donax L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1941) (voucher ID: BISH 122234) Taxon name on voucher: Arundo donax L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1932) (voucher ID: BISH 122235) Taxon name on voucher: Arundo donax L.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Also var. versicolor (P. Miller) J.S. Stokes. Cultivée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 329) Voucher cited: Grant 55266
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 97)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 329) Voucher cited: Moore 197
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1926) (voucher ID: BISH 13723) Taxon name on voucher: Arundo donax L.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 97)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 97)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Also var. versicolor (P. Miller) J.S. Stokes. Voucher cited: J. Florence 2378 (PAP) Ornementale commune.
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Also var. versicolor (P. Miller) J.S. Stokes. Cultivée
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 188) Rare.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 31)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1498-1499)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1498-1499)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive	Kennedy, Barbara H./James, Shelley A./Imada, Clyde T. (2010) (p. 22) Voucher cited: C. Imada & S.A. James 2008-2 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1498-1499)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1498-1499)
Japan (offshore islands) Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands	Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands	introduced	Kato, Hidetoshi (2007)
Nauru Nauru Island	Nauru Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 31)
Nauru Nauru Island	Nauru Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Thaman, R. R./Fosberg, F. R./Manner, H. I./Hassall, D. C. (1994) (pp. 66-67) Vouchers cited: Fosberg 58742 (US), Scully 171N (US?), Thaman & Manner 22318 (SUVA), Thaman & Manner 95 (SUVA) Spontaneous in some areas.
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 99)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Belep	introduced invasive cultivated	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 380) Largement répanue.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Belep	introduced invasive cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 56)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive cultivated	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 380) Largement répandue.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 56) Voucher cited: Cribs 853 Spontané
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île des Pins (Isle of Pines)	introduced invasive cultivated	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 380) Largement répanue.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île des Pins (Isle of Pines)	introduced invasive cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 56)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 8, 84) Voucher: BMW 6541 (BISH, BRI, GUAM)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 31)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 8, 79)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1977) (voucher ID: BISH 425868) Taxon name on voucher: Arundo donax L.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1978) (voucher ID: BISH 428449) Taxon name on voucher: Arundo donax L.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1978) (voucher ID: BISH 699709) Taxon name on voucher: Arundo donax L.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (year unknown) (voucher ID: BNM 10089) Taxon name on voucher: Arundo donax L.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1974) (voucher ID: BNM 10052) Taxon name on voucher: Arundo donax L.
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	introduced	Henty, E. E. (1969) (p. 33)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 65)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1968) (voucher ID: BISH 28621) Taxon name on voucher: Arundo donax L.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1973) (voucher ID: BISH 417684) Taxon name on voucher: Arundo donax L.
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Lifuka Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 53) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15767
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Lifuka Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1953) (voucher ID: BISH 122232) Taxon name on voucher: Arundo donax L.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 50)
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis (‘Uvea) Island	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2007) (pp. 12, 26) Cette grande herbacée est abondamment naturalisée en bordure de routes et de pistes où elle aurait été initialement planté pour stabiliser les talus.

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)		Hafliger, Ernst/Scholz, Hildemar (1980) (p. 22)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive	Queensland Herbarium (2002) (p. 1)
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Costa Rica (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Natualized
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	El Salvador (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Natualized
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Natualized
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Nicaragua (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Natualized
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
China China	Hong Kong	native	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 323)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Japan Japan	Japan	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced	Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 192)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)		Hafliger, Ernst/Scholz, Hildemar (1980) (p. 22)
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive	Owen, S. J. (1997)
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive cultivated	Edgar, E./Connor, H. (2000) (p. 419) "Occasional garden escape. Roadsides and sandy waste land".
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 16) Cultivated only
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Chile (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Natualized
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Chile (Republic of)	introduced invasive cultivated	Belov, Michail (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Natualized
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Perú (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Natualized
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (California)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Christmas Island Group	Christmas Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (p. 105) Naturalized
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	United States (other states)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Comments:  An ornamental variety, A. donax var. versicolor (Mill.) Stokes is widely cultivated. It has white-striped leaves.

Reported to be under cultivation in Fiji.

An invasive species in riparian areas in California (US).

Control:  Additional control information from the Bugwood Wiki.

Physical:  "Cut down close to ground. Dig out entire root/rhizome mass. Dispose of at refuse transfer station or by burning. While slashed stems can be left or dumped, stumps always resprout and digging root masses can leave rhizomes behind"  (Weedbusters New Zealand).

"La lutte manuelle par arrachage des plants est difficile en raison de la capacité de multiplication végétative de l’espèce" (Meyer, 2008; p. 31).

Chemical: "Herbicides must be used to ensure that the root mass is killed because even tiny fragments of rhizome can grow into new colonies.  Both glyphosate and fluazipop herbicides have proven effective, especially when applied after flowering.  Because this species tends to spread downstream, it's important to remove infestations from the upper reaches of a watershed first"  (Bell, 1996).  "Cut down close to ground. Spray regrowth with Amitrole (10ml/L) + Gallant (10ml/L) + penetrant before it reaches 60 cm. Continue respraying at under 60 cm until regrowth ceases (normally requires 4-6 treatments). Minimise herbicide contact with soil and other vegetation as Amitrole is non-selective, residual and corrosive. Stray emergent shoots can be cut at ground level and 10 ml undiluted Amitrole injected into each stem"  (Weedbusters New Zealand).

"La lutte chimique par application d’herbicide sur les racines (avec du glyphosate ou du paraquat) est délicate en raison de la proximité du lac de cratère" (Meyer, 2008; p. 31).