ILLINOIS PLANT INFORMATION NETWORK
 
 ILPIN INFORMATION ON    Arundinaria gigantea
 
 
 CLASS:    MONOCOTYLEDENAE
 ORDER:    CYPERALES
 FAMILY:   POACEAE
 SCIENTIFIC NAME:  Arundinaria gigantea
 AUTHORITY:  (Walt.) Chapm.
 
 COMMON NAMES:
    GIANT CANE
 
 SYNONOMY:   None
 
 PLANTS CODE: ARGI
 
 NATURAL COMMUNITIES:
     FOREST
       UPLAND FOREST
         MESIC
         WET-MESIC
       FLOODPLAIN FOREST
         MESIC
       FLATWOODS
         SOUTHERN
       THICKETS
     WETLAND
       SEEP & SPRING
         ACID GRAVEL SEEP
     PRIMARY
       GLADE
         LIMESTONE
       BLUFF
         CLIFF (ROCKY BLUFF)
           LIMESTONE
 
 
 SAF FOREST COVER TYPE:
     NO
 
 
 NATURAL DIVISION:
     Coastal Plain
        Cretaceous Hills
 
 COUNTIES:
   ALEXANDER       EDWARDS         FRANKLIN        GALLATIN        GREENE
   HAMILTON        HARDIN          JACKSON         JEFFERSON       JOHNSON
   LAWRENCE        MASSAC          MONROE          PERRY           POPE
   PULASKI         RANDOLPH        RICHLAND        ST. CLAIR       SALINE
   UNION           WABASH          WASHINGTON      WAYNE           WHITE
   WILLIAMSON
 
 GROWTH FORM:  Monocot
 
 TAXONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS:
    ROOTS:  Adventitious   (rhizomes)
    LEAF ARRANGEMENT:   Alternate
    LEAF TYPE:   Simple
    LEAF MARGIN:   Entire
    LEAF VENATION:  Parallel
    LEAF SHAPE:     Linear
    INFLORESCENCE:   Panicle
    FLOWER MEROUS:  3
    FLOWER STRUCTURE:   Complete
    FLOWER PLACEMENT:  Hypogynous
    FRUIT:   Grain
 
 DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTIC COMMENTS:
     This is a coarse, woody perennial with stout rhizomes;
     hollow stems, leaf blades distinctly petiolate, where
     jointed to the sheath. This species becomes the tallest
     and woodiest grass in Illinois.
 
 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION:
     ORIGIN:   Native
 
 GEOGRAPHIC COMMENTS:
     Only this genus of the tribe Bambuseae, is native to Illinois.
     Species is occasional in southern 1/4 Illinois, absent elsewhere.
 
 POPULATION DYNAMICS:
     STATE STATUS: Not listed
     FEDERAL STATUS: Not listed
     COMMONNESS:  Occasional
     ENDEMIC:   NOT-ENDEMIC
 
 BIOLOGIC:
     HABIT:   Grasslike
     LIFE CYCLE:   Perennial
     REPRODUCTION:   Vegetative
     FLOWERING PERIOD:
         MONTH BEGINNING-      5         MONTH END-      6
     TROPHIC STATUS:  Autotrophic
     SEX:      Perfect
 
 BIOLOGIC COMMENTS:
     After the sporadically-produced grains are developed, the culm bearing
     the spikelets dies.
 
 ECODISTRIBUTION COMMENTS:
     Species is distributed in low woods; in the extreme southern counties, near the
     base of rocky, wooded slopes. It forms extensive "brakes" in
     several low areas of southern Illinois.
 
 ENVIRONMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS:   No data entered
 
 FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:    No data entered
 HUMAN RELATIONSHIP DATA:
     EDIBLE:  Yes
 
 
 HUMAN FACTOR COMMENTS:
     Hollow stems are used as fishing poles, pole bean supports, and to make
     baskets, mats, and pipe stems. Young shoots may be cooked
     and eaten; mature grains, sporadically produced, area also
     eaten.
 
 WILDLIFE AND LIVESTOCK INFORMATION:
     FOOD VALUE:  No data entered
     COVER VALUE:  No data entered
 
     WILDLIFE COMMENTS:
         Seeds, when available, are eagerly sought by birds and mammals.
 
 
 LIVESTOCK PALATABILITY DATA:
     CATTLE FORAGE: Good       SHEEP FORAGE:  No data    HORSE FORAGE:  No data
     GOAT FORAGE:   No data    ENERGY VALUE:  No data    PROTEIN VALUE: No data
     POISONOUS (LIVESTOCK):  No data entered
 LIVESTOCK COMMENTS:
     Young plant parts are used as forage. Seeds, when available,
     are eagerly sought by stock (Fernald et al.).
 
 REVEGETATION PLANTINGS:    No data entered
 
 
 REFERENCES:
Steyermark, J. A.  1963.  Flora of Missouri.  Iowa State University Press, Ames.
     1725 pp.
Mohlenbrock, R. H.  1967-continuing.  The illustrated flora of Illinois.
     Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale.
Fernald, M. L., A. C. Kinsey, and R. C. Rollins.  1958.  Edible wild plants of
     eastern North America.  Harper and Brothers, New York.  452 pp.
 
 END OF DATA FOR SPECIES  Arundinaria gigantea
 
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 ILPIN was developed by Louis Iverson*, with data compiled by David Ketzner and Jeanne Karnes
 Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 E. Peabody Dr., Champaign, IL 61820
     *currently employed by USDA Forest Service, 359 Main Rd., Delaware, OH 43015