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THE RIVER-SIDE NATURALIST. 



The COMMON REED (Arundo phragmitis) Fig. in " E. B.," 

 1727 so abundant on the margins of our lakes and rivers, 

 is one of the tallest and handsomest of our grasses, runs 

 often to six feet or more in height. The panicle (flowers) 

 large purple-brown, at first upright, afterwards spreading, 

 and finally drooping. The stems (culms, as they are called) 

 upright, stout, from five to seven feet high, hollow, with 



THE COMMON REED. 



many knots ; very smooth, shiny, and leafy. Leaves a foot 

 long or more, spear-shaped, broad, many ribbed, tapering 

 to a very fine point at the apex. The spikelets dark 

 purple, from three to six flowered ; as the flowers advance 

 the tufts of hair increase, at length becoming very silky. 

 This plant frequently forms patches of immense extent, 



