Giant Reed

Scientific name: Arundo donax L.

Common names: Giant reed, Spanish reed

Native To: Thought to be native to eastern Asia (Polunin & Huxley 1987)

Date of U.S. Introduction: Early 1800's (Robbins et al. 1951, Mariani et al. 2010)

Images: Invasive.org and Google

Video: Tuscon Audubon - Removing Giant Reed in Sabino Canyon (or click Play button below)

Means of Introduction: Introduced for erosion control (Mariani et al. 2010)

Impact: Crowds out native plants species; reduces wildlife habitat; contributes to higher fire frequency and intensity; and modifies river hydrology (Giessow et al. 2011)

Current U.S. Distribution:

• PLANTS Database map (see complete PLANTS Profile for county distribution and native status)
• Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System

U.S. States and U.S. National Parks Where Reported Invasive: Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States map

Management Plans: Aquatic Species

Selected Internet Resources:

• Federal Government
• State Government
• University/Academic
• International
• Organizations

Arundo donax
Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
Taxonomy

Arundo donax Article Citation Search - AGRICOLA Database
USDA. National Agricultural Library.
Research; Special Note: NAL Catalog Search (resources)

Arundo donax - Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)
USDA. ARS. National Genetic Resources Program.
Taxonomy; Distribution

Giant Reed - Weed of the Week May 23, 2005; PDF | 178 KB)
USDA. FS. Northeastern Area. Forest Health Protection.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Arundo donax - Fire Effects Information System (FEIS)
USDA. FS. Rocky Mountain Research Station. Fire Sciences Laboratory.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls; Legal Aspects; Special Note: References

Giant Reed - A Field Guide for the Identification of Invasive Plants in Southern Forests
USDA. FS. Southern Research Station.; Bugwood Wiki.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Life Cycle; Controls

Plant Profile for Arundo donax - PLANTS Database
USDA. NRCS. National Plant Data Center.
Taxonomy; Photographs; Distribution; Legal Aspects

Arundo donax L. (Giant Reed) - Aquatic Plant Information System (APIS)
DOD. USACE. Engineer Research and Development Center. Environmental Laboratory.
Identification/Description; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Giant Reed - Invasive Non-Native Plants
DOI. NPS. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
Identification/Description; Photographs

Team Arundo del Norte
California Environmental Resources Evaluation System.
Control; Research; Special Notes: Forum of local, state, and federal organizations dedicated to the control of Arundo donax (giant reed), where it threatens rivers, creeks, and wetlands in Central and Northern California)

Arundo donax - Invasive Alien Plant Species of Virginia (PDF | 230 KB)
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Natural Heritage Program; Virginia Native Plant Society.
Identification/Description; Illustrations; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Arundo donax - Noxious Wildland Weeds of California
University of California - Berkeley. Integrative Biology.
Identification/Description; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls; Special Note: References

Giant Reed, Arundo donax (Poaceae)
University of California, Riverside. Center for Invasive Species Research.
Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution; Controls

Giant Reed - Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States
University of Georgia. Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Distribution

Giant Reed - Invasive Plant Atlas of the MidSouth
Mississippi State University. GeoResources Institute.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls; Legal Aspects

Giant Reed - Exotic Aquatics on the Move
National Sea Grant Network and Geographic Education Alliances.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution; Controls

Giant Reed Wanted Poster--Dead, Not Alive! (PDF | 102 KB)
University of Nevada - Reno. Cooperative Extension.
Identification/Description; Photographs

Giant Reed - Oklahoma Invasive Species
Oklahoma State University.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution; Controls

Arundo donax - Invasive Species Compendium
Centre for Agricultural Bioscience International (CABI).
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Arundo donax (grass) - ISSG Global Invasive Species Database
World Conservation Union. Invasive Species Specialist Group.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Giant Reed
Environment Bay of Plenty Regional Council (New Zealand).
Identification/Description; Photograph; Impacts, Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Arundo donax - Invasive Plants of California's Wildlands Book (2000)
California Invasive Plant Council.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Arundo donax
Discover Life.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Arundo donax - Plants of Hawaii (PDF | 21 KB)
Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Life Cycle; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Arundo donax
Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Giant Reed
Plant Conservation Alliance. Alien Plant Working Group.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Arundo donax
Pulling Together Initiative. Texasinvasives.org.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls; Special Note: References

Giant Reed - Practical Guidebook to the Control of Invasive and Aquatic Wetland Plants of the San Francisco Bay-Delta Region
San Francisco Estuary Institute.
Identification/Description; Photographs

Arundo donax
Santa Margarita and San Luis Rey Watersheds Weed Management Area.
Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Arundo donax Fact Sheet
Sonoma Ecology Center. Sonoma Valley Watershed Council.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts

Citations

Giessow, J., J. Casanova, R. Leclerc, R. MacArthur, G. Fleming, J. Giessow (Else). 2011. Arundo donax (giant reed): Distribution and Impact Report (PDF | 12.8 MB). Agreement No. 06-374-559-0, State Water Resources Control Board. California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC).

Mariani, C., R. Cabrini, A. Danin, P. Piffanelli, A. Fricano, S. Gomarasca, M. Dicandilo, F. Grassi & C. Soave. 2010. Origin, diffusion and reproduction of the giant reed (Arundo donax L.): a promising weedy energy crop. Annals of Applied Biology. 157: 191-202.

Polunin, O. & A. Huxley. 1987. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press, London.

Robbins, W.W., M.K. Bellue and W.S. Ball. 1951. Weeds of California. Calif. Dept. of Agric., Sacramento. 55.