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Arundinaria gigantea
  • Cane Reed

a member of the Arundinaria genus in the family Gramineae.

Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • permanent shade
    Permanent shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid, neutral, alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 6
    Zone 6
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Arundinaria gigantea has 2 edible uses listed
Arundinaria gigantea has 2 material uses listed
Arundinaria gigantea has 1 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Young shoots - cooked[8][9][1][5][10]. Used as a pot-herb[11]. Seed - cooked[1][2][3]. It can be used as a wheat substitute[4][5], for which it is not much inferior[6], but it is rather small and difficult to collect in quantity[7]. The plants only flower at irregular intervals of several years.

Seed

Cooked

Seed - cooked[1][2][3]. It can be used as a wheat substitute[4][5], for which it is not much inferior[6], but it is rather small and difficult to collect in quantity[7]. The plants only flower at irregular intervals of several years.

Shoots

Cooked

Young shoots - cooked[8][9][1][5][10]. Used as a pot-herb[11].

Material uses

The canes are used as pipe-stems, are woven into baskets and mats plus a variety of other purposes[12][11]. The hollow stems can be made into flutes[13].

Canes

Basketry, Weaving

The canes are used as pipe-stems, are woven into baskets and mats plus a variety of other purposes[12][11].

Stems

Musical

The hollow stems can be made into flutes[13].

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The root is cathartic. A decoction has been used to stimulate the kidneys and 'renew strength'[13].

Root

Cathartic

The root is cathartic. A decoction has been used to stimulate the kidneys and 'renew strength'[13].

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - surface sow as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse at about 20°c. Do not allow the compost to dry out. Germination usually takes place fairly quickly so long as the seed is of good quality, though it can take 3 - 6 months. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a lightly shaded place in the greenhouse until large enough to plant out. Bamboos only flower at intervals of several years and so seed is rarely available. Division in late spring as new growth commences. Take divisions with at least three canes in the clump, trying to cause as little root disturbance to the main plant as possible. Grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse in pots of a high fertility sandy medium. Mist the foliage regularly until plants are established. Plant them out into their permanent positions when a good root system has developed, which can take a year or more[14]. Rhizome cuttings. Basal cane cuttings.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Arundinaria gigantea. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Prefers an open loam of fair quality and a position sheltered from cold drying winds[15][8][16]. Succeeds on peaty soils. Requires abundant moisture and plenty of organic matter in the soil. Plants are intolerant of drought[15]. Succeeds in full sun or dappled shade in warm, humid, damp conditions[14]. Some reports say that this plant is only hardy in S.W. England[15][8][16] though another report says that the roots are hardy to about -30°c if they are heavily mulched[12]. This plant used to form very extensive stands in much of south-eastern N. America, but it provides a nutritious forage and is very easily destroyed by the continuous grazing of cattle or the rooting of pigs and so has been greatly reduced in the wild[11]. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[14]. Plants only flower at intervals of many years. When they do come into flower most of the plants energies are directed into producing seed and consequently the plant is severely weakened. They sometimes die after flowering, but if left alone they will usually recover though they will look very poorly for a few years. If fed with artificial NPK fertilizers at this time the plants are more likely to die[17]. The rootstock is running, forming new shoots from late May[16].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Arundinaria gigantea. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Arundinaria gigantea.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Arundinaria gigantea
Genus
Arundinaria
Family
Gramineae
Imported References
Edible uses
[8][9][1][5][10][11][2][3][4][6][7]
Medicinal uses
[13]
Material uses & Functions
[12][11][13]
Botanic
[8][18][14]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
  • Seed (Cooked)
  • Shoots (Cooked)
Material uses
  • Canes (Basketry Weaving)
  • Stems (Musical)
Medicinal uses
  • Root (Cathartic)
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
6
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
permanent shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    ?
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    9 x
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    ?
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite











    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.4 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (32202/01/01)
    2. ? 2.02.12.2 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (32202/01/01)
    3. ? 3.03.13.2 Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture. ()
    4. ? 4.04.14.2 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (32202/01/01)
    5. ? 5.05.15.25.35.4 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (32202/01/01)
    6. ? 6.06.16.2 Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books ISBN 0-449-90589-6 (32202/01/01)
    7. ? 7.07.17.2 McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press ISBN 0-253-28925-4 (32202/01/01)
    8. ? 8.08.18.28.38.48.5 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (32202/01/01)
    9. ? 9.09.19.2 Sholto-Douglas. J. Alternative Foods. ()
    10. ? 10.010.110.2 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (32202/01/01)
    11. ? 11.011.111.211.311.411.511.6 Hitchcock. A. S. Manual of the Grasses of the United States Dover Publications. New York. ISBN 0-486-22717-0 (32202/01/01)
    12. ? 12.012.112.212.3 Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden. ()
    13. ? 13.013.113.213.313.413.5 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (32202/01/01)
    14. ? 14.014.114.214.3 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (32202/01/01)
    15. ? 15.015.115.2 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (32202/01/01)
    16. ? 16.016.116.2 Lawson. Bamboos. Faber (32202/01/01)
    17. ? ? The Plantsman. Vol. 1. 1979 - 1980. Royal Horticultural Society (32202/01/01)
    18. ? Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. (32202/01/01)

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