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Lexicon Spaanseriet _____________________________________________________ English 'Spanish reed' or 'giant reed'. Arundo donax. The vernacular name derives from the Dutch Spaansche riet, much as its English name, framed for its country of association, who introduced it as a garden plant in 1660. By 1800 it was found throughout the Cape Colony, cuttings often taken as useful material for the construction of huts and shelters, woven baskets and as support for the clayed roofs of brakdak houses or clayed floors of brandsolders. Books linked to this entry Smith, Christo Albertyn, Phillips, Edwin Percy (Editor) & Van Hoepen, Estelle (Editor) . 1966. Common names of South African plants (Botanical Survey Memoir No. 35). Pretoria: Department of Agricultural Technical Services. Botanical Research Institute pp 430