COMMON REED 



Phragmites communis Trin. 



Common reed is abundant in marshes, along rivers, streams and 

 canal banks. It is a terrestrial, perennial, and canelike grass with 

 spreading pennant-like leaves. The reed often grows in dense stands 

 in water or along the water's edge where it aids in stabilizing the bank, 

 but becomes a nuisance by growing down into the water and impeding 

 flow, and by absorbing and transpiring copious amounts of water. 



The reed has a thick stalk which reaches heights of 900 millimeters. 

 The long, flat leaves spread out widely from the stem (insert 1), are 

 relatively broad, but gradually narrow to a fine tip. The terminal 

 plumelike flower cluster (insert 2) consists of numerous perfect flowers 

 (having both male and female structures). Flowers are purple at first, 

 but by maturity long, white silky hairs surround them, thus creating 

 the large white feathery flower cluster visible throughout winter. 

 Common reed also forms thick, creeping rhizomes (rootstocks) which 

 forms the dense stands in and around bodies of water (insert 3). They 

 are hardy structures which are primarily responsible for the difficulty 

 in keeping common reeds under control. 



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