Quick Facts

Quick facts

• Arundinaria species are small to larger bamboos that can spread via underground rhizomes.
• They are potential weeds of urban bushland, roadsides, and open woodland, in sub-tropical and warmer temperate climates.
• Arundinaria Reed (A. simonii f. variegata) is the only species known to be naturalised in Australia.
• On Lord Howe Island, Arundinaria Reed can form dense stands that out-compete native plants and can disrupt the nesting and burrowing of native bird species.

What Does It Look Like?

What is it?

Arundinaria species are small to large bamboos (1–13 m tall) that can spread via rhizomes (underground stems), or can be non-rhizomatous and loosely clumped. The stems (culms) are semi-upright to drooping, and 0.5–6 cm thick. The internodes (section between two joints or nodes) are cylindrical to slightly flattened on one side. The lateral branches are always enclosed by a sheath formed by the leaves. The culm leaf-blades are linear to spear-head shaped or triangular, and are narrower than the sheath. The leaf blades in some species can have a short petiole-like (leaf stalk) connection to the sheath (e.g., A. simonii f. variegata) [as A. simonii], that can vary in shape among species. The flower-heads (inflorescence) can be compound (comprising many branches), or less often simple (comprising only a few spikelets). The spikelets are several to many-flowered and slender (Clayton et al. 2008; Zheng-de et al. 2006).

The only Arundinaria species known to be naturalised and problematic in Australia is Arundinaria Reed (A. simonii f. variegata) [as A. simonii], which is currently naturalised on Lord Howe Island. This species is a long-lived (perennial) plant growing to 6 m in height and spreads via creeping underground stems (rhizomes). Its leaves are relatively narrow linear spear shaped to narrow-oblong and have a short petiole-like structure at the base (Navie 2004).

For further information and assistance with identification of Arundinaria species, contact the herbarium in your state or territory.

Flower colour

• Yellow
• Red
• Orange
• Green

Growth form (weed type/habit)

Grass

Where it currently grows? Preferred habitat

Arundinaria species are potential weeds of urban bushland, roadsides, and open woodland, in sub-tropical and warmer temperate climates (Navie 2004).

Are there similar species?

Arundinaria species are similar to several cultivated Bamboo species from the genus Bambusa. However, species of Bambusa tend to clump and do not produce long creeping underground stems (rhizomes), while Arundinaria species are generally rhizomatous (Navie 2004; Clayton et al. 2008). Bambusa species also have a broad 2-keeled prophyll (a small leaf formed at the base of the inflorescence), while in Arundinaria species the inflorescence is enclosed by a narrow 1-keeled prophyll (Zhang-de et al. 2006).

The only Arundinaria species known to be naturalised in Australia, A. simonii f. variegata, can be confused with other Bamboo species from the genus Phyllostachys. Arundinaria simonii can be distinguished from these species by its green cylindrical stems that lack longitudinal grooves, whereas the stems are blackish to purplish-black in Black Bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra), greenish yellow to yellow in Golden Bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea) and the stems of these two species have a distinctive longitudinal groove (Navie 2004).

Giant Reed (Arundo donax) is similar to Arundinaria simonii f. variegata, but the Giant Reed has very large leaves (up to 80 cm long) that are not constricted at the base of the blade. Giant Reed also produces flowers in large feathery clusters, while flowers in Arundinaria simonii f. variegata are rarely produced (Navie 2004).

Why Is It A Weed?

What are its impacts?

Native ecosystems: On Lord Howe Island, Arundinaria Reed (A. simonii f. variegata) forms dense stands that displace native plant species, prevent understorey regeneration and can disrupt the nesting and burrowing of native bird species (The Norman Wettenhall Foundation 2004).

How does it spread?

Dispersal in Arundinaria species can occur by the spread of seeds, and in some species by creeping underground stems (rhizomes). In Arundinaria Reed (A. simonii f. variegata) [as A. simonii], seed production is rare, and spread usually occurs via the rhizomes spreading outwards from plantings or from dumped garden waste (Navie 2004).

What is its history in Australia?

Arundinaria and Semiarundinaria species are cultivated widely as ornamental plants, for example Semiarundinaria japonica [as Arundinaria japonica], S. fastuosa [as A. fastuosa and A. viridis] are commonly cultivated in some areas of Australia (Jacobs & Hastings 2007; Richardson et al. 2006). Beyond cultivation, it is unknown if any of these species have become naturalised anywhere on mainland Australia. Arundinaria Reed (A. simonii f. variegata) [as A. simonii] is naturalised on Lord Howe Island (Navie 2004).

How To Manage It?

Best practice management

There is currently little specific information regarding the control of Arundinaria species in Australia, although herbicides are effective for controlling Semiarundinaria japonica [as A. japonica] in natural areas in Auckland City, New Zealand (Auckland City Council 2007).

Non-chemical control: On Lord Howe Island, A. simonsii f. variegata [as A. simonii] is removed manually and the area is replanted with native seedlings (The Norman Wettenhall Foundation 2004).

Chemical control: Herbicides can be effective on Arundinaria spp. using a cut stump method, but physical removal is considered to give the best results (Ensbey 2004).

Please see the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority for chemical information http://www.apvma.gov.au

Does it have a biological control agent?

NO

When does it grow? (lifecycle/growth calendar)

New shoots in Arundinaria species are produced in late spring to early summer (Zhang-de et al. 2006).

Where Is It Found?

Which states and territories is it found?

NSW

What areas within states and territories is it found?

Arundinaria Reed (Arundinaria simonii f. variegata) is only known to be naturalised on Lord Howe Island (Navie 2004).

Where does it originate?

Arundinaria species are native to mainland China and the Ryukyus (Clayton et al. 2008).

National And State Weed Listings

Is it a Weed of National Significance (WONS)?

NO

Where is it a declared weed?

NSW, WA

Government weed strategies and lists – Weeds Australia

Is it on the National Alert List for Environmental Weeds?

NO

Government weed strategies and lists – Weeds Australia

Is it on the Agricultural Sleeper List?

NO

Government weed strategies and lists – Weeds Australia

Names And Taxonomy

Main scientific name

Arundinaria spp.

Other scientific names (synonyms)?

Does it have other known common name(s)?

• Arundinaria Reed (for A. simonii)
• Simon's Bamboo (for A. simonii)