Giant Reed

At a glance

Origin / distribution: Haiti, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Iraq

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Antilactogogue, Cancer, Diuretic, Hypertension

Science studied: ALKALOIDS, ALPHA-AMYRIN-ACETATE, L-ARABINO-D-GLUCURONO-D-XYLAN, L-ARABINOSE

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Poaceae

Scientific name: Arundo donax

Common names: Giant Reed, Arundo grass, Bamboo reed, Cow cane, Donax cane, Giant cane, River cane, Spanish cane/reed, Wild cane, Reedgrass, Bamboo Reed, Cana, Cana brava, Canna, Canna Domestica, Canna domestica, Canna gentile, Canne de Provence, Canne de Provence, Grand roseau, Roseau de Provence, Canuto, Carrizo asiático gigante, Caña brava

POWO: 390837-1 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in Haiti, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Iraq.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Antilactogogue
• Cancer
• Diuretic
• Hypertension
• Hypotension
• Sudorific
• Syphilis

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• Haiti
• Italy
• Spain
• Turkey
• Iraq

Documented cultural uses

• Antilactogogue
• Cancer
• Diuretic
• Hypertension
• Hypotension
• Sudorific
• Syphilis

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Antilactogogue · Haiti · "
• Cancer · Italy · "
• Diuretic · Spain · "
• Diuretic · Haiti · "
• Diuretic · Turkey · "
• Hypertension · Iraq · "
• Hypotension · Haiti · "
• Hypotension · Turkey · "
• Sudorific · Turkey · "
• Syphilis · Haiti · "
• Hypertension · Haiti · "

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Root sequestration and antioxidant defense underpin cadmium tolerance in Arundo donax under contrasting Cd concentrations. · 2026 source ↗
• Structural analysis and anti-alcoholic liver disease effects of a polysaccharide from Arundo donax L. rhizome. · 2026 source ↗
• Synergistic regulation of defective meiotic DNA repair, premature tapetal degeneration, and hormone signaling underlies pollen abortion in Arundo donax · 2026 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• ALKALOIDS
• ALPHA-AMYRIN-ACETATE
• L-ARABINO-D-GLUCURONO-D-XYLAN
• L-ARABINOSE
• ASH
• 3,3'-BIS(INDOLYL-METHYL)-DIMETHYL-AMMONIUM-HYDROXIDE
• BUFOTENINE
• CALCIUM
• CARBOHYDRATES
• CELLULOSE
• N,N-DIMETHYLTRYPTAMINE-METHOHYDROXIDE
• DONAXARIDINE
• DONAXERINE
• ELEAGNINE
• FAT
• FLAVONE-C-GLYCOSIDES

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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