Arundo donax* L. Sp. Pl. 81
(1753).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Arundinoideae. Tribe Arundineae.
Key references
(books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (133), [1969] E.E.Henty, Manual Grasses New Guinea
(33), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia,
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia
(285), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New
South Wales (135).
Illustrations:
[1983] J.C.Tothill & J.B.Hacker, Grasses of Southern Queensland
(116), [1984] N.T.Burbidge. rev. S.W.L.Jacobs, Australian Grasses (67), [2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of
Australia 44B: Poaceae 3 (Fig.1, E-F), [2006] J.Jessop,
G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (284, Fig. 220), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs,
R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn
(132).
Derivation:
reed-like in habit.
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present, elongated. Culms erect, stature reed-like, 200–800
cm tall, 0.5 mm diam. Mid-culm internodes hollow, thin-walled. Leaves cauline.
Leaf-sheath auricles present. Ligule a fringed membrane, a ciliolate membrane.
Leaf-blades drooping, 5–100 cm long, 10–80 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth,
glabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle oblong, 30–60 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets (2–7), comprising 2–7 fertile floret(s), with a barren rachilla
extension, cuneate, laterally compressed, 8–15 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate,
membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 3–5 -nerved. Lower glume apex muticous. Upper
glume lanceolate, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 3–5 -nerved. Upper glume apex
muticous.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 6–12 mm long, without keel, 3–9 -nerved. Lemma surface
indumented. Lemma apex muticous or mucronate or awned. Median (principal) awn
1–3 mm long overall. Palea 2 -nerved. Lodicules present. Anthers 3. Grain 2 mm
long.
Continental
Distribution: Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia,
Pacific, North America, and South America.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia,
Queensland, New South Wales, Norfolk I, Macquarie, Heard.
Western Australia:
Drummond, Dale, Menzies, Warren. Northern Territory: Central Australia
South. South Australia: Eastern, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty. Queensland:
Cook, Moreton, North Kennedy, Darling Downs. New South Wales: North
Coast, Central Coast.
Notes.
Introduced from the Mediterranean, widespread in Australia, disturbed sites,
often along stream or canal banks. Flowers March to July.
