switch cane

Arundinaria tecta is a low and slender bamboo that branches in its upper half, growing up to 0.6–4 m (2 ft 0 in – 13 ft 1 in) in height. Arundinaria tecta features long primary branches usually greater than 50 centimetres (20 in) in length. The leaves are 8–20 cm (3.1–7.9 in) long and 0.8–3 cm (0.31–1.18 in) wide, tapering in width towards their base. Both leaf surfaces are densely pubescent. The midculm leaves of A. tecta are longer than their associated internodes. The panicles are borne on shoots that grow directly from the rhizomes. Rhizomes feature continuous air canals. Each panicle has a few clustered spikelets on slender branches. These branches have loose sheaths with minute leaves. The spikelets are 2.5–5 cm (0.98–1.97 in) long and have five to ten flowers. The plant flowers from March to June.

Arundinaria tecta is generally restricted to the Coastal Plains of the Southeastern United States. It can be found in wetlands, bogs, swamps, and sandy stream margins. It is often found in low lying and moist areas like live oak woods and non-alluvial swamps. However, it can still be found in the Blue Ridge and Piedmont areas of the Southeast. Large populations of A. tecta are known as canebrakes and are considered critically endangered ecosystems.

The phenology and reproductive cycles of Arundinaria tecta are largely unstudied, and what information is available is often conflicting. Some suggest A. tecta flowers in synchrony after periods of 3 to 50 years and then die off in entire stands. Others found that it flowering is unpredictable and on irregular cycles. Life cycles are usually at least several decades. Arundinaria tecta is thought to flower more frequently than its close relative A. gigantia. Flowering generally occurs from February to June and seeds are reported to have low viability rates with only one in 10,000 florets producing viable seeds. There is poor agreement on the flowering cycles of Arundinaria species, but all species are assumed to be wind-pollinated. This is a possible reason restoration efforts for large cane breaks can be difficult with long timelines. Squirrels, quail, turkey, and humans are seed predators of A. tecta.

Arundinaria species serve as an important plant to many indigenous groups throughout the southeastern United States. Traditionally, Arundinaria tecta and other Arundinaria species have been used as building materials, weapons, hunting/fishing gear, instruments and more. The plants were processed with sharp tools made from stones and sometimes mussels before the arrival of metal in the Americas. The process of weaving a cane basket takes considerable time and energy. Cane has been described as very labor intensive and a challenging raw material to work with.