Arundo
giant reed, reed
2-10 m tall, 1-3.5 cm thick, usually erect, occasionally pendant from cliffs;
nodes glabrous;
internodes hollow.
cauline, conspicuously distichous, glabrous;
sheaths open, longer than the internodes;
ligules membranous, shortly ciliate;
blades flat or folded, margins scabrous.
terminal, plumose, silvery to purplish.
laterally compressed, with 1-several florets;
rachilla segments glabrous;
disarticulation above the glumes and between the florets.
longer than the florets, 3-5-veined;
lemmas pilose, hairs not papillose-based, 3-7-veined, apices entire or minutely awned;
paleas shorter than the lemmas, 2-veined;
anthers 3.
= 12.
Arundo
Arundo, a genus of three species, grows throughout the tropical and warm-temperate regions of the world. Only one species has been introduced to the Western Hemisphere.
Arundo is similar to, but usually larger than, Phragmites, a much more common genus in North America. In addition, Arundo, but not Phragmites, has a wedge-shaped, light to dark brown area at the base of its blades.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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