River Cane?

[saumensch]

Hello,

i envy all of you who got a naturally growing supply of river cane in their region.  

Could you tell me the excact latin name for river cane that can be used for arrows?
And is there a source to buy river cane shafts from?

Thanks Axel

[magnus]

Check the bowyers bench. There's a thread there about cane and Pat B. lists there Latin name. As far as a dealer, not yet but soon.

[americanhunter7]

If you're talking about phragmite reed (common reed) the scientific name is Phragmites australis, and is what we call river cane here in Indiana. And +2 to what Magnus said. I found the post and listed it below for you. Hope this helps.

 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=125;t=006671;p=1#000013

[Wind D Ranch]

Arundinaria Gigantea is rivercane.  I just planted some and I'm anxious to see how it grows.    

[Overspined]

So can it grow in Michigan? Will it live through the winter?

[Wind D Ranch]

From the research that I have done, I'm about as far north as rivercane will grow outdoors.  I also have some Japanese Arrow Bamboo (Pseudosasa japonica) that I grow in a large pot.  It tolerates shade well so I bring it indoors during the winter.

[Pat B]

Of the native US canes hill cane(Arundinaria appalachiana) is the most cold hardy. It is indiginous to the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Even though it can get cold here it doesn't get Michigan cold! There may be an Asian cane that can tolerate that kind of cold but I don't know what it would be.
  You do have lots of red osier dogwood in Michigan and it makes excellent arrows.

[Looper]

You can get some pretty good cane shafts from 3rivers Archery.  I've got a dozen shafts from them and am impressed. They're only around $24 for 6.