Arundinaria gigantea

giant cane, american bamboo
Family

Poaceae

Leaf Arrangement

alternate

Leaf Type

simple

Leaf Shape

linear, elliptic, lanceolate

Growth Form

shrub, graminoid

Flower Color

green, yellow

Flower Month

February - July

Height (meters)

0.5 - 8.0

Milky Sap

No

Armed/Unarmed

Unarmed

Origin

native

Lifespan

perennial


Wetland Class

FACW

Wetland Coefficient of Conservatism

5

Field Characters

A tall, bamboo like plant to 3 m tall forming colonies from rhizomes. The leaves are parallel-veined and occur in fan-shaped clusters at the tips of small branches.

Animal Use

Giant cane is excellent forage. Where cane furnishes a minor part of the forage, it is usually overgrazed.

Habitat

Bogs, low woods, savannas, and dry woods.