SafePlants

Cinna latifolia: Drooping Woodreed

Cinna latifolia, commonly known as drooping woodreed, is a perennial grass species belonging to the Poaceae (Grass) family. Other common names include wood reedgrass, slender wood-reed, and nodding wood-reed.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Cinna latifolia (Trevis. ex Goepp.) Griseb.
• Family: Poaceae (Grass Family)
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Synonyms: Cinna latifolia (Trevir. ex Gopp.) Griseb., Slender Wood Reedgrass

Distribution and Habitat

Cinna latifolia is native to the Northern Hemisphere and is a bunchgrass. It has been observed in areas like Montana, the Mt. Adams Wilderness along the Killen Creek Trail, and vernally moist grassy areas along the Klickitat Trail near Cispus. Records also exist within the ISM Herbarium. Additionally, there is information about an area in Myllypuro aimed at restoring drooping wood reed.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Cinna latifolia is a loosely tufted, sweet-scented perennial.
• Stems are slender.
• It can grow up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall.
• Culms are 20-190 cm, nodes are 4-9.
• Ligules are 2-8 mm.
• Blades can reach up to 28 cm long and 1-20 mm wide.
• Panicles are 3-46 cm with drooping, spreading inflorescence.
• Spikelets have awns approximately 1 mm in length.

Ecological Role

Drooping woodreed is mentioned in the context of swamp forests. It's occasionally to locally abundant species. The restoration project in Myllypuro indicates a conservation concern, further supported by being listed on the S3 Watch list for Western MD.

Additional Information

• The flowers of Cinna latifolia are hermaphrodite and are pollinated by wind.
• The spikelets of Drooping Wood Reed also have awns about 1 mm. in length.

Resources

• USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
• Montana Field Guide
• Discover Life
• TERMIUM (Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank)
• CalPhotos