ARUNDO DONAX: If corn and bamboo had a baby, it would 
be Arundo donax [06 "...a grass."] And this baby is behaving 
badly... we explain ahead on Passport to Texas.

This is Passport to Texas

Texas has its share of invasive plants and animals, 
including Arundo Donax, or giant reed; you've probably 
seen it along roadways and river banks. 

13-you see it on roadsides, it's very tall-grows up to about 30 feet. 
Has segments, really broad, pointed leaves-huge showy plumes. It can 
actually be quite pretty. And it looks somewhat like corn.

Giant reed is a non-native grass. Monica McGarrity who 
studies aquatic invasive species for TPW, says its most 
harmful impact occurs when it gets into areas along 
rivers and creeks. 

18-They have these impacts because they're able to outcompete the 
native plants and push them aside, displace them. And when we're 
talking especially about riverside, riparian areas, along our creeks - 
diversity of native plants is really important to the wildlife, and for 
maintaining the overall health of the community. 

When giant reed displaces native plant communities, the 
result is reduced habitat quality.

17- It reduces quality for birds and other wildlife. And then it can start 
to- over time - have impacts on the stream itself, and reduce the 
habitat that's available to the aquatic community, and make it more 
homogenous, more the same throughout. Rather than having diverse 
pools and riffles and habitats that they need.

Monica McGarrity returns tomorrow to tell us how not to 
try and remove this plant from our property.

The Sport Fish Restoration program supports our series.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I'm Cecilia Nasti.





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Maximum Script time:			0:37.0	         	          Suggested show time: 85.0 = 1:25
Seems a bit weird that I say they instead of it, but not sure how to correct that or if it's an issue.