giant reed

noun

1. a tall grass, Arundo donax, of southern Europe, having woody stems and a spirelike flower cluster often 2 feet (60 centimeters) long.

Word History and Origins

Origin of giant reed¹

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

Migrants pitched tents and built makeshift shelters from giant reeds known as carrizo cane.

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Shelters have been made from giant reeds and many are using the river to bathe and wash clothes in, the AP reports.

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A group of over a dozen people escaped the flames by jumping into the reservoir as the giant reeds on shore began to burn behind them, according to the newspaper.

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According to an EPA press release, the arundo galling wasp and the arundo scale insect will be introduced to giant reed beds in the area, where they'll munch through the plants, causing them fatal damage.

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The giant reed can grow about 30 feet in a year, has few pests and can grow in less nutrient-rich soil.

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