35 



PHRAGMITES 



BOTANICAL 



Phragmites (Phragmites communis) is a tall, plumed marsh 

 grass native to Asia, Africa, and Europe as well as to North Amer- 

 ica. Though widespread in this country, it is largely absent from 

 the Southeast, except in gulf-coast marshes. Local names include 

 giant or common reed, cane, feathergrass, or foxtail (north At- 

 lantic coast), roseau or roseau cane (Louisiana and eastern 

 Canada), and carrizo or carrizo cane (Southwest). 



Dense stands of this robust perennial sometimes extend over 

 many acres. The plant spreads mainly by long runners either 

 underground or aboveground. In shallow water, phragmites can 

 extend its growth if the runners are able to obtain anchorage. 

 Above-ground runners have been known to grow 25 feet in 1 year. 

 It had been assumed that the plants produce viable seed only 

 rarely, yet seedlings have been noted commonly in the Middle At- 

 lantic Region. 



IMPORTANCE 



Margins of phragmites beds or stands that are not too dense 

 may provide useful cover for waterfowl and locally they serve as 

 cover for pheasants, rabbits, and other game. Runners and aerial 

 stems have some usefulness as food for muskrats and are valuable 

 for their house-building. Hunters frequently make duckblinds 



