| Photo Information |
Copyright: Tanja Almazan (sily)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 238 W: 6 N: 391]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif) (1893) |
| Genre: Plants |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2007-01-10 |
| Categories: Water Plants |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2007-01-11 16:33 |
| Viewed: 829 |
| Points: 6 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Phragmites australis
Common Reed is a large grass that grows up to 12 feet tall. It has a large stalk, called a culm, which can be an inch thick. The culm is hollow inside.
Leaves of Common Reed are long, sharp, and bluish-green blades. They grow about two feet long and two inches wide.
Common Reed flowers have several different parts. First, they have a panicle, which is a long stem. On each panicle, there are many spikelets. Each spikelet has up to seven small reddish flowers on it. The flowers are less than an inch long.
Later, the flowers die and small gray fruits with many seeds take their place.
Common Reeds grow in marshes, or along the edges of ponds, lakes, and streams. They can grow in shallow water, or in dry places.
This grass often forms thick stands. A stand is an area where one species of plant takes over so there is hardly any room for other plants.Some other plants that often grow with Common Reeds include Common Cattail, bulrushes, Arrowhead, sedges, thistles, and docks. Some trees that grow in the same areas as Common Reeds are oaks, hickories, maples, American Elm, American Beech, and willows.
Common Reeds can be very competitive. They will often crowd out other plants, such as cattails. They grow quickly by spreading underground stems, called rhizomes.Birds eat the seeds of Common Reeds, and Muskrats eat the rhizomes. However, this plant is more important to wildlife as protection and cover.
Because it is so tall, Common Reed can hide big animals, such as White-tailed Deer, as well as many small animals, such as frogs and insects. |
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