Arundinaria alabamensis

Tallapoosa Cane is a native woody perennial in the Grass Family (POACEAE). It is currently known to occur from Macon County north to Cleburne County and roughly tracks the Tallapoosa watershed. Tallapoosa Cane occurs on mesic to xeric slopes under oak-hickory forests, in hillside seeps, and occasionally along streams. 

Tallapoosa Cane grows from 3-8 feet in height. It is colonial from woody rhizomes with peripheral air canals. The rhizomes are usually horizontal for only a short distance before turning up at the apex to form a culm (therefore often presenting a sympodial branching pattern). The culms (stems) are erect, terete, glabrous, woody, green or tan in color, with hollow internodes. They are brittle in texture when compared to our other native species of Cane. The culms are flattened behind the branch complement on larger culms but lack a prominent groove. Leaves are alternate, triangular to linear-lanceolate in outline, evergreen, pubescent or glabrous above, and long pubescent below. Plants often have a “fan” of 5-9 large closely spaced leaves at the top of the stem. The leaf sheaths are persistent, densely pilose, with ciliate margins. Flowers and fruit have not been observed at this time.

Tallapoosa Cane is believed to have originated through hybridization and subsequent diversification. It appears to be most closely related to the Switch Cane clade (A. tecta and A. appalachiana), but with River Cane (A. gigantea) as the chloroplast donor.—A. Diamond.

Tallapoosa Cane (Arundinaria alabamensis) was described and named in 2023 by Dr. Jimmy Triplett, professor and curator of the Jacksonville State University Herbarium (JSU). At present it is recognized as Alabama's 31st endemic vascular plant taxon. It is also the state's fourth species of Arundinaria ranking Alabama #1 in native bamboo species among all fifty states.