Key identifying traits
-
Very large grass with stems that
are woody and hollow; can reach heights to 12’ tall
-
Leaves
are lanceolate, 8-16” long
-
Has creeping rhizomes and
sometimes stolons are present
-
Flowers are feathery, tawny or
purplish, 6–16” long, with the branches ascending
Biology and ecology
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A perennial plant primarily
spreading by rhizomes but also by seed
-
It grows in marshes and swamps,
on banks of streams and lakes, and around springs-likes standing
water
-
There appears to be a native and
non-native genotype of common reed
in the U.S. Please
click here to read a full report of the two plants
-
Native Americans utilized the
stems for arrows, basket weaving, sleeping mats, and carrying
nets
-
Phragmites australis is found on
every continent except Antarctica and is thought to have the
widest distribution of any flowering plant although the origin
of the plant is unknown
Control
Prevention –
Learn to identify plants; start monitoring early in the season
Biological –
No known biological control in our area
Cultural –
Plant competitive grass or other cover crop
Mechanical –
The plant can survive burning and cutting because of the hardy
rhizomes; dredging has been used with some success at reducing
population densities
Chemical – As a member of the
grass family, only non-selective, grass killing herbicides will
control it; control in or near water bodies may require special
permits. The
PNW Weed Management handbook has no listings for chemical
recommendations
Where found
–
No sites
of Common reed have been verified in the Stevens County to date.
MSdoc
PDF |
Photos top
& middle courtesy Mike Haddock,
http://www.lib.ksu.edu/wildflower/ |
