common reed

(Phragmites australis)

Overview
American common reed
 
 

Common reed is a tall, perennial, aquatic plant. It is common and widespread, occuring worldwide on every continent except Antarctica. In North America it occurs in every U.S. state except Hawaii and in every Canadian province except Nunavut. It is very common in Minnesota, where it has been recorded in 84 of the state’s 87 counties.

Common reed is found in or near shallow water in a variety of aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats: in wetlands, including swamps, marshes, bogs, and wet prairies; on beaches and on the margins of ponds and rivers; in gravel pits and large drainage ditches. It grows under full sun in wet conditions in rich soil.

 
 

There are four generally recognized subspecies of Phragmites australis, three of which occur in North America. Two are native, one has been introduced and is now widely naturalized.

Common reed is an important species for wetland ecosystems, providing habitat and food for a variety of organisms, including birds, insects, and fish. It also has a role in stabilizing wetland soils and preventing erosion. However, in some areas, its has become invasive. It grows in dense stands that can outcompete native plant species, reducing biodiversity and altering wetland ecosystems. Once established, it can be difficult to eradicate.

 
     
 
Description
 
 

Common reed is a 3½ to 16½ (1 to 5 m) tall, aquatic or semi-aquatic plant. Though called a reed, it is acutally a grass.

The root system is extensive and can be up to 9¾ (3 m) deep.

The stem is erect, hollow, unbranched, round in cross section, and 316 to (5 to 15 mm) thick.

The leaves are linear to lance-linear, flat, drooping, 8 to 24 (20 to 60 cm) long, and 516 to 1¼ (8 to 32 mm) wide.

The inflorescence is a single, large, dense, plume-like cluster of flowers at the end of the stem.

Each flower is pruplish-brown and about (1 cm) in length.

Each plant produces 1,500 to 2,000 seeds.

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 22, 24, 28, 29, 30.

 
  4/1/2023      
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Kingdom Plantae (green algae and land plants)  
  Subkingdom Viridiplantae (green plants)  
  Infrakingdom Streptophyta (land plants and green algae)  
  Superdivision Embryophyta (land plants)  
  Division Tracheophyta (vascular plants)  
  Subdivision Spermatophytina (seed plants)  
  Class Liliopsida (monocots)  
 

Order

Poales (grasses, sedges, cattails, and allies)  
 

Family

Poaceae (grasses)  
  No Rank PACMAD clade  
  Subfamily Arundinoideae (reeds, giant canes, and allies)  
  Tribe Molinieae  
  Subtribe Moliniinae  
 

Genus

Phragmites (common reeds)  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

American common reed (Phragmites australis ssp. americanus)

Eurasian common reed (Phragmites australis ssp. altissimus)

European common reed (Phragmites australis ssp. australis)

Subtropical common reed (Phragmites australis ssp. berlandieri)

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Arundo altissima

Arundo australis

Arundo graeca

Arundo isiaca

Arundo maxima

Arundo occidentalis

Arundo palustris

Arundo phragmites

Arundo vulgaris

Cynodon phragmites

Oxyanthe phragmites

Phragmites altissimus

Phragmites australis ssp. maximus

Phragmites australis var. berlandieri

Phragmites berlandieri

Phragmites capensis

Phragmites caudatus

Phragmites chilensis

Phragmites communis ssp. berlandieri

Phragmites communis ssp. maximus

Phragmites communis var. berlandieri

Phragmites communis var. flavescens

Phragmites communis var. genuinus

Phragmites communis var. hispanicus

Phragmites communis var. isiacus

Phragmites communis var. mauritianus

Phragmites communis var. variegatus

Phragmites communis

Phragmites dioicus

Phragmites fissifolius

Phragmites hispanicus

Phragmites isiacus

Phragmites martinicensis

Phragmites mauritianus

Phragmites maximus

Phragmites maximus var. berlandieri

Phragmites maximus var. variegatus

Phragmites occidentalis

Phragmites phragmites

Phragmites vulgaris

Phragmites vulgaris ssp. maximus

Phragmites vulgaris var. mauritianus

Reimaria diffusa

Trichoon phragmites

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

common reed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

Share your photo of this plant.

 
  This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption.
 
 

 

 
 

 

 
           
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

 

 
           

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
  Phragmites australis (Common Reed)
Allen Chartier
 
  Phragmites australis (Common Reed)  

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

Share your video of this plant.

 
  This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link.
 
 

 

 
     
     
       
       
 
Other Videos
 
  common reed (Phragmites australis)
UFInvasivePlantsEDU
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on May 24, 2010

Aquatic and Invasive Plant Identification Series by the UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants ( http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu ) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, Invasive Plant Management Section.

For more information about common reed, go to http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/node/323

Video editor/videographer - Phil Chiocchio

   
  The Common Reed, Phragmites with Tim Simmons
Danger in the Reeds
 
   
 
About

Published on Feb 11, 2014

Viewers who may never have the opportunity to visit the Great Marsh will quickly understand from Tim's clear and precise explanations why these 14 square miles of marsh lands are so important to all of us and how Phragmites has evolved into a "super" species capable of damaging ecosystems like the Great Marsh wherever it is allowed to expand.

   

 

Camcorder


Last Updated:

About Us | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | © MinnesotaSeasons.com.com. All rights reserved.