Spanish reed, noun phrase

Origin:
Translation of South African Dutch spaansche riet.
The grass Arundo donax of the Poaceae (subfamily Arundinoideae), with slender bamboo-like canes which in the past were used in Cape houses, being laid across beams to form ceilings; spaansriet.
Note:
Introduced as a garden plant from south Europe in about 1660, the reed was found throughout the colony by 1800.
[1821 C.I. Latrobe Jrnl of Visit (Glossary) 397Spanish Riet, Arundo donax.]
1824 W.J. Burchell Trav. II. 172Near the house, were the largest ‘Spanish reeds’ which I had observed in any part of the colony.
1845 J. Collett Diary. II. 19 JulyBegan cutting our Spanish Reeds & replanting fence.
1850 J.D. Lewins Diary. 78My bottom land beginning to look like a meadow. Must get about January some Spanish reeds to plant.
1933 W.H.S. Bell Bygone Days 35Among the miscellaneous imported plants were ginger, arrowroot, New Zealand flax, Spanish reeds, bamboos, coffee, and many others.
1976 G. & G. Fagan in Optima Vol.26 No.2, 81The ceiling..no longer existed and there were no records describing what he had used. In all probability it was made of Arundo donax (Spanish reed) which had been imported before 1700 and which was growing profusely on most farms by 1800. These were commonly used for ‘rietplafonne’ or reed ceilings.
1977 F.G. Butler Karoo Morning 14Adam figs, and Spanish reeds, and lucerne patches shimmering with butterflies.
The grass Arundo donax of the Poaceae (subfamily Arundinoideae), with slender bamboo-like canes which in the past were used in Cape houses, being laid across beams to form ceilings; spaansriet.
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span, verbv.Spanish Spec, Spanish Speck, nounn.
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