Switchcane
Arundinaria tecta
- Native to:
- Virgin Islands
Will McFarland (www.inaturalist.org)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Arundinaria
- Species:
- Arundinaria tecta
- USDA Symbol:
- ARTE4
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid , Shrub , Subshrub
- Height:
- 400 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Evergreen Shrub:
- Yes
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★★★★★ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Carolina Roadside Skipper (Amblyscirtes carolina), Creole Pearly-eye (Enodia creola), Lace-winged Roadside Skipper (Amblyscirtes aesculapius), Northern Pearly-Eye (Enodia portlandia), reversed roadside skipper (Amblyscirtes reversa)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Butterflies:Enodia Hübner
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Can resprout from rhizomes after fire; fire may help maintain open canebrake habitat.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, nutrient-rich, sandy loam
- pH:
- 4.5 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- commonly found in wetland areas