navigation
Previous Plant Next Plant

xxxHome
x
xAbsinth wormwood
x
xAlligatorweed
x
xAmerican Lotus
x
xAmerican Pondweed
x
xAmpelopsis
x
xAustralian Pine
x
xBaccharis
x
xBamboo
x
xBanana Passionflower
x
xBarnyard Grass
x
xBermuda Grass
x
xBirdsfoot Deervetch
x
xBlack Locust
x
xBlack Mustard
x
xBlue Lettuce
x
xBrazilian Elodea
x
xBrazilian Peppertree
x
xBufflegrass
x
xBull Thistle
x
xBulrush
x
xBurdock
x
xButtonbush
x
xCanada Thistle
x
xCattails
x
xCheatgrass
x
xCherry Silverberry
x
xChinaberry
x
xChineese Lespedeza
x
xChinese Bush Clover
x
xChinese Privete
x
xChinese Tallow Tree
x
xClimbing Hempweed
x
xCogon Grass
x
xCommon Buckthorn
x
xCommon Cocklebur
x
xCommon Reed
x
xCommon Sowthistle
x
xCoontail
x
xCottonwood
x
xCrownvetch
x
xCurlyleaf Pondweed
x
xDalmation Toadflax
x
xDiffuse Knapweed
x
xDuckweed
x
xDyer's Woad
x
xElephant Ears
x
xElodea
x
xEnglish Ivy
x
xEurasian Watermilfoil
x
xEuropean Stickseed
x
xField Bindweed
x
xField Mustard
x
xField Sowthistle
x
xFloating Heart
x
xFloating Primrose
x
xFlowering Rush
x
xFragrant Water-Lilly
x
xGallant Solder
x
xGarlic Mustard
x
xxGiant Foxtail
x
xGiant Reed
x
xGiant Salvinia
x
xGlossy Buckthorn
x
xGorse
x
xHalogeton
x
xHempnettle
x
xHimalayan Raspberry
x
xHoary Cress
x
xHorsenettle
x
xHorseweed
x
xHoundstongue
x
xHydrilla
x
xIvy Gourd
x
xJapanese Barberry
x
xJapanese knotweed
x
xJohnson Grass
x
xJointed Goatgrass
x
xKlamath Weed
x
xxKochia
x
xKoster's Curse
x
xKudzu
x
xLeafy Spurge
x
xLimnophila
x
xLongspine Sandbur
x
xMalaleuca
x
xMedusahead
x
xMiconia
x
xMimosa
x
xMiramar Weed
x
xMultiflora Rose
x
xMusk Thistle
x
xNepalese Brown Top
x
xNorway Maple
x
xOld World Climbing Fern
x
xOrange Hawkweed
x
xOxeye Daisy
x
xPale Yellow Iris
x
xPaper Mulberry
x
xPara Grass
x
xParrotfeather
x
xPerenial Pepperweed
x
xPeriwinkle
x
xPlumeless Thistle
x
xPoison Hemlock
x
xPorcelainberry
x
xPrincess Tree
x
xPuncturevine
x
xPurple Loosestrife
x
xPurple Starthistle
x
xPupletop Vervain
x
xQuackgrass
x
xQueen Anne's Lace
x
xRedroot Pigweed
x
xReed Canarygrass
x
xRice Cut-Grass
x
xRiviere Golden Bamboo
x
xRussian knapweed
x
xRussian Thistle
x
xSalvinia minima
x
xScotch Broom
x
xScotch Thistle
x
xSkeleton Weed
x
xSlender Naiad
x
xSmartwed
x
xSmooth Brome
x
xSouthern Naiad
x
xSpatter-Dock
x
xSpiny Naiad
x
xSpotted Knapweed
x
xStrawberry Guava
x
xSulfur cinquefoil
x
xSunflower
x
xSwallowworts
x
xTamarisk/Salt Cedar
x
xTansy Ragwort
x
xTeasel
x
xTexas Blueweed
x
xTorpedo Grass
x
xTree of Heaven
x
xTropical Soda Apple
x
xTumble Pigweed
x
xUruguayan Primrose
x
xVariable-Leaf Milfoil
x
xWater Buttercup
x
xWater Chestnut
x
xWater Moss
x
xWater Paspalum
x
xWater Shield
x
xWater Hyacinth
x
xWater Lettuce
x
xWater Willow
x
xWestern Water Hemlock
x
xWhite Sweetclover
x
xWhitetop
x
xWild Mustard
x
xWild Parsnip
x
xWillows
x
xYellow Nutsedge
x
xYellow Starthistle
x
xYellow Toadflax

Common Reed - Phragmites australis
Family: Poaceae

View Video

Description

Common Reed is a large grass species that grows typically around wet areas, often in riparian habitat or wet marshy edges of lakes. While it can stand some terrestrial habitats, its not commonly found far from water.

Leaves tend to have a blueish ting to them and can grow up to 2 feet long and 2 inches in diameter, although they are often found much shorter and thinner.

The stalks of this plant are hollow and can grow up to 10 feet tall. The size of this plant is one of the easier ways to distinguish this plant from other invasive grasses.

The infloresence off the top is composed of many small flowers that create a reddish 'top' to the plant.

Similar Species: The only other grass that can often be confused with this plant is Arundo donax or Giant Reed. Giant Reed also likes wet terrestrial habitats, but has leaves and stalks that are MUCH larger and wider. Its terminal flower infloresence is also much larger. For more information on telling the difference watch the Giant Reed Video.

Interesting facts

There has been a bit of controversy as to whether or not common reed is truely an invasive species. While rhizomes from the plant have been found in Native American peat cores, it seems odd that this plant has been spreading so rapidly AND that native wildlife do not tend to use this plant for food. Today common reed is found all around the world so it is very difficult to asses where the plant may have come from. One common theory today is that the plant actually was native, but it was not until the more aggressive European genotype came to the Americas that we started having a problem.

VIDEO

Links to more information

Website, video, and graphics by Rob Nelson
For more information on this plant or management please contact US Army Corp of Engineers

 
New Biology Video Podcast The Wild Classroom Biology Concepts Biodiversity Home