Arundinaria sensu stricto is a genus encompassing three species that are endemic to the Southeastern United States: A. appalachiana (hill cane), A. gigantea (river cane), and A. tecta (switch cane). The taxonomy of this group has been problematic due to a poor understanding of its phylogeny and genetic variation as well as ambiguity surrounding original protologues and designated nomenclatural type specimens. In particular, the neotype of Arundo gigantea (the basionym of Arundinaria gigantea) and the holotype of A. macrosperma (a synonym of A. gigantea) both provide insufficient morphological characters for species identification. Here we designate epitypes to assist with the correct application of the names of these taxa. A summary of diagnostic morphological features for the three species of Arundinaria and comments on their phylogenetic relationships based on recent molecular and morphological analyses are also provided.

Arundinaria gigantea (river cane), a native bamboo species, was once abundant in river valleys of western North Carolina. Cane stands are now a rare ecosystem due to land use changes, but restoration efforts are underway. River cane reproduces mainly rhizomatously. Sexual reproduction is often characterized by gregarious flowering, followed by death of the flowering culms and possibly of the attached rhizomes. Suggestions have been made in the literature that clusters of flowering culms are monoclonal, but this has not been tested. In this study, leaves were sampled from sterile and fertile culms along transects from two stands in Jackson and Swain counties, North Carolina. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) fragments were generated for these samples using three primer pairs. Most of the resulting AFLP fingerprints generated were not identical; however, using a threshold dissimilarity technique, we estimated the probable number of clones in our samples. The majority of fertile culms within a stand were determined to be monoclonal and distinct from some, but not all, of the sterile culms. Cluster analysis confirmed that most of the fertile culms within each stand were more genetically similar to one another than to the sterile culms, and that the two different stands had distinct sets of genotypes, with no genotype overlap between stands. On the basis of these findings, to maximize clonal diversity and minimize the impact of culm loss after flowering, restoration projects should use propagules collected from multiple stands and from multiple localities within a stand.

Arundinaria gigantea (Walt.) Muhl., commonly called river cane, is a member of the grass family (Poaceae). The primary purpose of this research is to characterize the physical and chemical properties of the soils of existing stands of A. gigantea in western North Carolina and to provide guidance for the restoration of river cane to the stream valleys of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. We analyzed soils at 20 sites in Cherokee, Jackson, and Macon Counties in North Carolina and collected data on soil characterization, nutrient levels, bulk density, particle size, pH, and hydraulic conductivity. River cane soils varied significantly for carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sand levels, even within the same watershed (ANOVA, p < 0.05). Typical soils are very sandy, mineral soils with low carbon levels and low nutrient levels. Soils are well drained, have very low bulk densities, and low pH. Despite low nutrient conditions, the plant does not appear to be nutrient limited. Restoration potential for the species is high, but more research is required to determine specific limitations on growth.

The once dominant Arundinaria gigantea canebrake ecosystems have been reduced to fragmented populations less than 2% of their former extent resulting in a critically endangered ecosystem. Restoration of canebrakes is thus necessary for maintaining and enhancing biodiversity in the southeastern United States. Contemporary fragments of canebrakes are trapped between anthropogenic development and closed canopy forests. The goal of this study was to assess the impact of light intensity on rivercane growth and physiology in both laboratory and field studies and thereby enhance restoration success. A laboratory experiment was conducted to test light (partial shading and no shading) and nitrogen (0, 0.5, 5.0, 25, and 100 g/L) effects on seedling growth. Potential interaction occurred between light and nitrogen. Levels of nitrogen up to ten times the commercially recommended amount (0.5 g/L) significantly increased seedling growth when plants were grown under non-shaded conditions. A thinning site was established in an existing rivercane population and forest canopy was reduced 60% by girdling overstory trees. Number of new shoots and new shoot diameter were both increased by thinning. In addition, light response curves demonstrated that rivercane had a typical C₃ light response pattern and field readings showed that rivercane maintained net photosynthetic activity throughout the dormant season. Results indicate that rivercane growth is enhanced with increased light levels. Reduction of overstory canopy is a potential management tool for enhancing survival and growth of existing populations.

Giant cane (Arundinaria gigantea) is a native bamboo species that was once abundant in wetlands and riparian areas throughout the Southeastern United States. As part of an effort to identify competitive-dominant native species that can be utilized to maximize the restoration of riparian ecosystem functions/services and reduce non-native community invasibility, we transplanted cane clump divisions into areas either dominated by or recently cleared of Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense), an invasive non-native shrub. We quantified cane survival and growth in the presence of privet and other plants including several common invasive non-natives. Removal of mature privet via a cut and paint application of glyphosate herbicide resulted in 100% mortality. Cane survival was high in both the high and low-light conditions provided by the opposing privet treatments. During the first year, there was little cane growth or expansion in either privet treatment. In the second year, cane growth and expansion in the Privet-Present treatment was also very low. However, during the second year in the Privet-Removed treatment, cane genets produced more ramets, increased in genet area, and developed ramets that were taller and thicker. Despite very high recruitment and cover of Japanese stilt grass (Microstegium vimineum) and other common invasive non-natives in the Privet-Removed treatment, transplanted cane genets continue to grow and expand. Our future research will continue to monitor the rate of cane growth as we investigate whether cane can compete with the common non-native invasive species that are dominant at this site and at other riparian ecosystems throughout the region.

Forest and grass riparian buffers are a common conservation practice to control nonpoint source pollution. In the lower midwestern United States, there is significant interest in incorporating a once common native riparian species, giant cane (Arundinaria gigantea) in riparian restoration designs. Thus, assessing the water quality benefits of giant cane buffers is warranted. Ground water nitrate and ammonium concentrations were measured at the field edge (0 m), and 1.5, 3.0, 6.0, 9.0, and 12.0 m from the field edge through giant cane and forest riparian buffers adjacent to agricultural fields along three streams in southern Illinois. Ground water nitrate and ammonium were not different between the giant cane and forest riparian buffers, nor were there significant reductions in these nutrients through the riparian zones when all three sites were considered. However, site-specific regressions of nutrient concentration vs. distance showed significant reductions (>80%) in nitrate through two forest and one cane riparian buffers, and a significant reduction in ammonium (95%) through a cane buffer. Our results indicate that buffer effectiveness may be dependent on landscape position and water table depth.

Cane (Arundinaria spp.) was one of the most important plant resources for Native Americans living in the southeastern United States prior to Euro-American settlement. The use of cane permeated virtually every aspect of tribal life. Cane was used to make houses and village structures, military and hunting weapons, fishing gear, furniture and domestic implements, personal adornments, baskets, musical instruments, and watercraft. Medicines were prepared from cane, and parts of the plant furnished food and fuel. Canebrakes provided agricultural land, livestock forage, and habitat for wild game. Although large numbers of canes were harvested each year, there is no historic evidence that Native Americans actively managed canebrakes for the production of culms. The cultural importance of cane to Native Americans declined dramatically following Euro-American settlement of the southeast because: 1) trade goods were deemed superior and replaced articles made from cane in local economies; 2) the rapid disappearance of canebrakes deprived Native Americans of raw material and forced them to seek alternatives; and, 3) many of southeastern tribes were eventually relocated to regions peripheral to or outside of the geographic range of cane.

The drastic loss of giant cane (Arundinaria gigantea) -dominated communities (canebrakes) in southeastern North America has spurred great interest in habitat restoration. We report on two giant cane restoration studies that investigate the effects of collection source, rhizome propagule morphological characteristics and type (greenhouse-grown containerized stock plants or bare rhizomes), site, and time on genet survival and growth. Survival over the two studies (after three and five years) differed by propagule collection source, was marginally greater when planting older containerized stock, and varied between sites. Although field survival tended to be somewhat greater for greenhouse-grown containerized stock in comparison to bare rhizomes, overall survival was similar for both stock types when accounting for mortality of planted rhizomes in the greenhouse. The number of culms, their height, and spread of the genets increased over time and differed by planting stock type in each study. At Becca's Tract, cane genet growth ranged from a mean of 1.4 ± 0.1 culms that were 41.7 ± 1.8 cm tall with essentially no spread after the first growing season to a mean of 80.6 ± 7.6 culms that were 99.8 ± 2.8 cm tall with a spread of 212.1 ± 19.6 cm after five years. Giant cane rhizome sections initially grown in a greenhouse or planted directly in the field can be used to establish canebrakes in a framework that is operationally feasible for large-scale restoration.

As awareness and interest in canebrake restoration activities in the southeastern United States continues to grow, we are faced with numerous challenges. The greatest of these challenges is obtaining enough germplasm to support restoration activities. Three propagation methods are reported in an effort to begin to elicit information regarding propagation of rivercane. Experiments to optimize micro-propagation, seed germination, and macro-propagation methods were compared. Tissue culture (rapid clonal multiplication) has great potential for production of large numbers of propagules. Production of shoots has been optimized, using 4-6 mm diameter explants on MS media, containing 0.1 µM IBA (indole-3-butyric acid ) and 0.01 µM TDZ (thidiazuron). However, the process is hampered by the current inability to generate roots. Maximizing seed germination offers the ability to exploit seed produced on existing canebrakes. Of the six temperature regimes tested on two populations, maximum germination occurred using roll towels, under a 35/25 or 30/20°C temperature regime. Removal of lemma and palea from the seed increased germination percentage for one of the populations. Macropropagation from rhizome sections derived from stock maintained in pot-in-pot container production allowed for relatively easy harvest. Rhizome sections 2-3 nodes in length soaked for 60 minutes in warm water or 1000 ppm BAP (6-benzylaminopurine) showed greatest shooting yield. Individual mother plants have the potential to yield 400 viable clones. While each method had its apparent strengths, only the macro-propagation method showed immediate promise.