Looks like a corn plant but what is it?

Discussion in 'Plants: Identification' started by hanna, Sep 27, 2009.

  1. hanna

    hanna Active Member 10 Years

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    Location:
    Arkansas, USA
    seen today in Central Arkansas, near crop fields, along the road side, in fertile soil, sunny location

    the plant grows over 10 ft tall, maybe even 15 ft

    grows from a rhizome

    has a feathery plume, like the ornamental grasses or corn

    maybe the pictures can help to identify it?

    thanks for any lead
     

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  2. thanrose

    thanrose Active Member 10 Years

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    Location:
    Jacksonville, FL USA USDA Zone 9
    That's a switch cane. I'm a little iffy on them, but it's either Arundo donax or Arundiaria spp.
     
  3. thanrose

    thanrose Active Member 10 Years

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    Jacksonville, FL USA USDA Zone 9
    I'm also thinking Phragmites.

    Just cruising around google images, I'm not seeing the plume on Arundinaria spp. so full and fluffy, but that may just be the chance selection of images. Arundo donax and Phragmites australis do have the plume.
     
  4. saltcedar

    saltcedar Rising Contributor 10 Years

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    Location:
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    Arundo donax
     
  5. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Yep: Phragmites does not have the heavy, lush, corn-like foliage of Arundo. I call the latter blue corn plant.
     
  6. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Ditto to Arundo donax.

    An invasive weed in your part of the world.
     
  7. hanna

    hanna Active Member 10 Years

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    Location:
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    thanks for all the posts, but I'm still not sure if it's an arundo or phragmites australis

    the inflorescence of the phramites on some photos is quite full too -

    they look a lot alike

    are there any clear characteristics between the two?
     
  8. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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  9. hanna

    hanna Active Member 10 Years

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    Michael,

    thanks for the clarification - the stems are definitely not slender and I did not see any purplish color
     

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