View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE

provided by CiteSeerX

Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. common reed POACEAE

Synonyms: Phragmites communis Trin. Phragmites phragmites (L.) Karst.

becoming whitish, and finally weathering to light brown. There are 2n = 36, 48, and 54 chromosomes (Duke 1998, Gould 1975, Harrington 1964, Uchytil 1992, Welsh and others 1987).

Range.—Common reed occurs in every state in the Continental United States except Arkansas (probably present but undocumented), in Puerto Rico (Natural Resources Conservation Service 2003), southern Canada, and Mexico. In fact it is found on all continents except Antarctica (Harrington 1964). It is native to the United States and is known from the archeological record. However, genetic analysis has shown that more aggressive European genotypes have replaced the native genotype in much of the former American range and have invaded new areas (Blossey 2002).

Ecology.—Common reed is a warm-season grass that starts its growth after the last frost has occurred but remains green until frost in temperate areas (Uchytil 1992). Wide climatic tolerance is indicated by its range that stretches from the tropics to cold temperate areas and habitat from sea level to elevations of at least 1,980 m (Harrington 1964, Welsh and others 1987). Common reed typically forms pure stands that contain up to 205 stems/m2 (Uchytil 1992). In Gulf

Drawing source: Britton and Brown 1913 Coast marshes, it is often codominant with Spartina cynosuroides (L.) Roth. (Duke 1998). General Description.—Common reed is also The species grows on the shores of streams and known as giant reed, giant reedgrass, roseau, lakes, and in marshes, both fresh and brackish. roseau cane, yellow cane, and cane (Uchytil 1992). Although common reed grows best in clay, it It is a shrub or perennial woody graminoid herb occurs in a wide variety of soils. The species that grows annually from woody rhizomes to tolerates flooding, frost, high pH, salt, and weeds heights of 2 to 4 m (occasionally to 6 m). The (Duke 1998). Stands in the Nile River Delta normally unbranched, hollow, jointed stems tolerate soil pH’s of 7.0 to 9.3 (Serag 1996). (culms) reach nearly 2.5 cm in diameter but Standing dead material often totals twice as much usually measure 1.0 to 1.5 cm in diameter. In biomass as current growth, allowing stands to burn addition to rhizomes, plants occasionally produce even during the growing season. New stands arise stolons. Alternate leaves are glabrous except for from rhizomes that are under the soil or water. The being strongly scabrous at the margins. They are species also tolerates late season drought (author, flat, 1 to 5 cm wide, and up to 50 cm long. personal observation). Moderately deep rooting (to Terminal plume-like panicles are 15 to 50 cm long 1 m, Uchytil 1992) undoubtedly imparts drought with branches ascending to nodding and densely resistance. A large number of fungal species and at flowered. The panicles are initially grayish purple, least one nematode have been isolated from the species, none of which cause extensive damage herbal medicine throughout the world. The stems (Duke 1998). were used as arrow shafts by Native Americans (Duke 1998). Native people of Tasmania used the Reproduction.—Common reed blooms mostly hollow stems to make rafts, jewelry, baskets, and from July through November (Diggs and others light spears (Australian National Botanic Gardens 1999). It apparently blooms and fruits throughout 2003). Common reeds are harvested today in the year in frost-free areas (Gould 1975). Under Britain for thatching (Tyler-Walters 2002). They favorable artificial conditions, germination begins were once harvested for fuel where better sources 1 day after sowing and may reach nearly 100 were unavailable and may hold promise as an percent (Ekstam and Forseby 1999). Although energy crop in the future. Stands yield 415 common reed is a relatively good seed producer calories/100g (Duke 1998). Early in the growing and seeds are added annually to the soil seed bank, season, common reed is high-quality forage for successful seedling establishment is rare (Uchytil cattle and horses and may be cut for hay. It 1992). New stands can also be started by flood- contains 11.4 percent protein, 2.3 percent fat, 42.1 borne pieces of rhizome. Once a new plant is percent carbohydrates, 31.1 percent crude fiber, established, it spreads by vegetative means. and 10.8 percent ash (Duke 1998). It becomes woody and unpalatable later in the season. The Growth and Management.—Because stems are seeds are eaten by waterfowl and the roots are renewed each growing season, annual height eaten by muskrats. The edges are occasionally growth is from 2 to 4 m per year. Growth can used for nesting by ducks and the interior of the reach 4 cm/day. In southern Manitoba, stems reach stands are nesting habitat for snowy egrets, black- their full height by the end of July (Uchytil 1992). crowned night herons, and yellow-headed During periods of falling water, colonies can blackbirds. A few species such as deer use the increase in width by as much as 15 m in a single stands for escape cover (Uchytl 1992). It is season (Fewless 2003). Annual productivity ranges important habitat for wildlife in Britain and from 7.5 to 63 metric tons/ha (Duke 1998). If supports such species as the bittern, the reed harvested during the dormant season, productivity bunting, and the marsh harrier (Tyler-Walters is not affected, except through compaction. New 2002). Throughout the world the stems have been stands are established by planting rhizome used for building materials, lattice work, baskets, segments (Duke 1998). This is normally not and mats. The young shoots and rhizomes are recommended because of the invasive nature of the sometimes eaten, and the rhizomes processed for species. Eliminating stands is difficult. The best starch. The stems are processed into pulp, paper, approaches are heavy grazing by cattle, and and fiberboards. Stalks contain over 50 percent spraying with amatrol, dalapon, or glyphosate with cellulose and have fibers 0.8 to 3.0 mm long by follow-up treatments. Stands can be degraded by 5.0 to 30.5 µm in diameter. The dried plumes are cultivation or summer mowing (Uchytil 1992). used for decorations and a variegated variety is employed as an ornamental (Duke 1998). Benefits and Detriments.—Common reed aggressively colonizes large areas of shoreline and References shallow marsh, and with its thick sod and heavy stand of stems effectively prevents wave- and Australian National Botanic Gardens. 2003. current-caused erosion (Uchytil 1992). It also traps Aboriginal plant use in South-eastern Australia: sediment and pollutants. In fact the species has Phragmites australis. http://www.anbg.gov. been used to aid in settling and drying sewage au/aborig.s.e.aust/phragmites-australis.html. 2 p. sludge (Graduate College of Marine Studies 2003). The dense single-species stands completely Blossey, B. 2002. Native to North America or displace other native marsh communities (Fewless introduced (or both)? Ag Web, Cornell 2003) and many of the fauna they support University, Ithaca, NY. http://www. (Weinstein and Balletto 1999). On the other hand, invasiveplants.net/phragmites/phrag/natint.htm. strong declines in populations in many European 3 p. countries have occurred during the last two decades (Clevering 1998). Native Americans used Britton, N.L. and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora the sap from green stems to loosen phlegm and of the northern states, Canada, and the British sooth lung pain, especially during pneumonia, and possessions. Vol. 2, 2nd Ed. Scribner, New York. to treat stomach problems and diarrhea (Moerman 735 p. 1986). There are numerous other applications in Clevering, O.A. 1998. An investigation into the Serag, M.S. 1996. Ecology and biomass of effects of nitrogen on growth and morphology of Phragmites australes (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. In stable and die-back populations of Phragmites the north-eastern region of the Nile Delta, australes. Aquatic Botany 60(1): 11-25. Egypt. Ecoscience 3(4): 473-482.

Diggs, G.M., Jr., B.L. Lipscomb, and R.J. Tyler-Walters, H. 2002. Phragmites australis, O’Kennon. 1999. Thinner’s and Mahler’s common reed. Marine Life Information Illustrated flora of North Central Texas. Network, Plymouth, UK. http://www.marlin. Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Fort ac.uk/species/Phraus.htm. 4 p. Worth, TX. 1,622 p. Uchytil, R.J. 1992. Phragmites australis. In: U.S. Duke, J.A. 1998. Handbook of energy crops: Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Center for New Crops and Plants Products, Laboratory, Fire Effects Information System. Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN. http:// http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/gramin www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/ oid/phraus/all.html. 19 p. phragmites_australis.html. 5 p. Weinstein, M.P. and J.H. Balletto. 1999. Does the Ekstam, B. and A. Forseby. 1999. Germination common reed, Phragmites australis, affect response of Phragmites australis and Typha essential fish habitat? Estuaries 22(3B): 793- latifolia to diurnal fluctions in temperature. Seed 802. Science Research 9(2): 157-163. Welsh, S.L., N.D. Atwood, S. Goodrich, and L.C. Fewless, G. 2003. Invasive plants of Wisconsin: Higgins, eds. 1987. A Utah flora. Great Basin Phragmites australis: common reed. http:// Naturalist Memoirs 9. Brigham Young www.uwgb.edu/biodiversity/herbarium/invasive University, Provo, UT. 894 p. _species/phraus01.htm. 2 p. ______Gould, F.W. 1975. The grasses of Texas. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, Texas. John K. Francis, Research Forester, U.S. 653 p. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, International Institute of Tropical Forestry, Jardín Graduate College of Marine Studies. 2003. Botánico Sur, 1201 Calle Ceiba, San Juan, PR Optimized reed (Phragmites australis) function 00926-1119, in cooperation with the University of in sludge drying beds: producing a more Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, PR 00936-4984 effective genotype. University of Delaware, Newark, DL. http://www.ocean.udel.edu/ level1/facultystaff/faculty/dseliskar/sludgebeds. html. 3 p.

Harrington, H.D. 1964. Manual of the plants of Colorado. Sage Books, Denver, CO. 666 p.

Moerman, D.E. 1986. Medicinal plants of Native America. Technical Reports. 19. University of Michigan Museum of Anthropology, Ann Arbor, MI. 534 p.

Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2003. Plants profile: Phragmetes australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. http://plants.usda.gov/cgo_bom/ plant_search.cgi?mode=Scientific+Nave&keyw ordquery=Phragmites+australis&earl=plant_s… 6 p.