164 FLOWERS OF LAKES, RIVERS, ETC. 



the Lepidoptera Reed Moth (Macrogaster arundinis], Phragmatoscia 

 arundinis, Reed Tussock (Orygia canosa), Obscure Wainscot (Lecania 

 obsoleta\ Fen Wainscot (Calamia phragmitidis], Senta ulvce, Nonagria 

 nenrica, Twin-spotted Wainscot (N. geminipuncta), Gold Spot (Phisia 

 festucce), Chilo phragmitelhis, Elachista cerusella, a Heteropterous in- 

 sect Teraticoris antennat^ls, and several Homoptera, Delphax pulchella, 

 Liburnia pallidula, L. punctulum, L. unicolor, L. speciosa, L. Scotti, 

 L. sniaragdula, Paramesus phragnntis, and flies such as Agromyza 

 nigripes, Platycephala timbraculata, Lipara lucens. 



Phragmites, Trinius, is from the Greek phragma, fence, with 

 reference to a spurious dissepiment at the nodes; and the second 

 name indicates its universal character. 



This graceful grass is called Bennels, Bog Reed, Ditch Reed, 

 Douclle, Pole Reed, Pull Reecl, Pull Spear, Reed, Speargrass, Spire, 

 Streeds, Windlestraws. The name Bennels is applied to a kind of 

 mat, made of reeds woven together, used for forming partitions in 

 cottages, or laid across the rafters to form an inner roof. The name 

 Douclle is " the root of the common reed grass found partially decayed 

 in morasses, of which the children in the south of Scotland make a sort 

 of musical instrument similar to the oaten pipe of the ancients ". 



The Reed was used traditionally by witches to fly upon. It is 

 used for thatching, and a specimen thus used a hundred years ago is as 

 fresh as if recently gathered. It is used for protecting sea embank- 

 ments, for ceilings to cottages, verandas, rustic buildings, for plaster 

 floors, for screens, and for hot-beds in kitchen gardens. \Vool is dyed 

 green by the flowers. The roots have been used for liver complaints. 

 Mats are made of it, and formerly it was used for pens for black-letter 

 type. 



ESSENTIAL SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: 



336. Phragmites commnnis, Trin. Stem tall, erect, leaves rigid, 

 flat, panicle spreading, loose, purple, male flowers below covered with 

 silky hairs. 



