'arundineous' originates from Latin, specifically from the stem 'arundin-' (from 'arundo, arundinis'), where 'arundo' meant 'reed', combined with the English adjectival suffix '-eous' meaning 'having the nature of'.

'arundineous' developed via Late Latin/Medieval Latin forms such as 'arundineus' or 'arundinōsus' and entered English in more modern botanical and literary usage as 'arundineous'.

Initially it meant 'pertaining to or resembling reeds', and over time it has retained this core meaning in botanical and descriptive contexts.