PHRAGMITES Copyright 2002, A.F. Cholewa, J.F. Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota / No portion of this guide may be duplicated without written permission of author.
 

Phragmites australis




 

 





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
This is a small genus of only two or three species.  All are
tall robust perennials, often forming thickets.  Stems are
hollow, leaf blades are very broad, and the inflorescences
are plumose.

1 species in MN; 1 native


Common species:
Phragmites australis  (frag my' tees   aus trah' lis) 
Synonyms: P. communis

Common names: bog reed grass, common reed, pampas 
grass, phragmites; Ojibway: aaboojigan 

Origin and habitat: Native; swamps, lakeshores, and wet 
roadside ditches and meadows, spreading under urbanized 
disturbance 

Identifying characters: Our tallest grass, growing up to 4 m, 
this species is also strongly rhizomatous with sharp-pointed 
rhizomes.  The lowermost leaf sheaths are often purplish and 
ligules consist of a slightly thickened minute base with an upper 
fringe of hairs.  Spikelets are 3-7-flowered with unawned lemmas 
that have a tuft of long hairs at the base.

Comments: Common reed has value as a natural water 
filtration plant and provides various species of wildlife with 
food and cover.  This species is found in temperate regions 
worldwide and can form extensive monocultures, especially in 
old-age wetlands.  The New England Wild Flower Society lists 
it as one of their noxious invasive species.  It can readily overpower 
wet sites, such as in Hackensach Meadows, NJ, where it occupies 
7000 continuous acres (Clark, F.H. et al., 1998, "Rogues Gallery: 
New England's Notable Invasive", Conservation Notes of the New 
England Wild Flower Society 2: 24).  The species is native, having 
been found in Connecticut soil records dating 3000 years old 
but it is thought that a European strain may have been introduced 
as well.  The eminent ecologist, Don Lawrence (of the Univ. of 
Minnesota), thought this to be the same reed that was found in 
ancient Egypt and Sumaria, perhaps the same as is represented 
in hieroglyphics (Lawrence, D.B., 1972, "The Arboretum's Reed 
Marsh in Historical Perspective -- A Plea for the Conservation 
of a Natural Resource", Univ. Minn. Agric. Exp. Sta., Misc. 
Rep. 111: 24-27).  In some countries reed is used as a source 
of cellulose in paper manufacturing and the Ojibway used the 
tough stalks to weave frames for drying berries, fish, and other items.

MAPS

ADDITIONAL SPECIES IN MINNESOTA:
None

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