Phragmites
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| Missing image Phragmites_australis_Schilfrohr.jpg Phragmites australis seed head in winter | ||||||||||||||
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Phragmites australis, the Common Reed, is a large grass native to wetland sites throughout temperate and tropical regions of the world. It is generally regarded as the sole species of the genus Phragmites, though some botanists divide the genus into three or four distinct species.
It commonly forms extensive stands, up to 100 hecatres or more (known as reedbeds); where conditions are suitable, it can spread at up to 5 m or more per year by horizontal 'runner' stems which put down roots at regular intervals. The erect stems grow to 2-6 m tall, with the taller plants growing in areas with hot summers and fertile growing conditions. The leaves are broad for a grass, 20-50 cm long and 2-3 cm broad. The flowers are produced in a dense, dark purple panicle 20-50 cm long.
The Common Reed is a very important plant for wildlife and conservation, particularly in Europe and Asia, where several species of birds are strongly tied to large Phragmites stands, notably the Bearded Tit Panurus biarmicus, the Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus and the Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris.
In North America, the species' status is hotly contested, with a widespread belief that it is an invasive species not native but introduced from Europe; however there is clear evidence for the presence of native Phragmites in North America long before human colonisation of the continent. It is now known that the North American native forms of Phragmites are markedly less vigorous than European forms, and that the recent marked increase in Phragmites in North America is due to a vigorous, but otherwise almost indistinguishable European form of the species, detectable only by genetic analysis. This is causing serious problems for many other North American wetland plants, including the local form of the species.
synonyms include Arundo phragmites L. (the basionym), Phragmites altissimus, P. berlandieri, P. communis, P. dioicus, P. maximus, P. vulgaris.
See also: Reed (plant) for other species called 'reed'.
External links
- Cryptic invasion by a non-native genotype of the common reed, Phragmites australis, into North America (http://www.invasiveplants.net/invasiveplants/phragmites/PNAS.pdf) (pdf file)
Phragmites_australis1.jpg
Riet_Phragmites_australis_planten.jpg
Reed.jpg
ca:Phragmites de:Schilfrohr es:Phragmites eo:fragmito fr:Roseau commun he:קנה lt:Nendrė nl:Riet sv:Bladvass