Feather Grass, Reed, Common Reed
Phragmites australis
Family: Poaceae
What it is like
A thick stemmed grass. It keeps growing from year to year from underground creeping stems or rhizomes. The stalks are erect. The stems are about 3 m high and 1 cm across. They have many nodes and are hollow in between these. The leaves are produced all the way up the stem. The leaves are 80 cm long by 4 cm wide. The leaves sheath the base. The blade is flat or slightly rolled inwards. The leaves are smooth underneath. The leaves point upwards and curve over. The flower panicle is about 40 cm long. It is green with purple tones and becomes creamy-white. The spikelets are 1-1.8 cm long.
There are 3 or 4 Phragmites species. It can be invasive.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows on the edges of pools and waterways. It grows in wetlands. It can grow in water up to 2 m deep. It can grow in slightly salty water. It does best in sunny sites and on clay soils. It does best in mud but can grow in sand. It can tolerate frost. It can grow in arid places. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 2,500 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 4-9. In Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia (country/location of origin), Bahamas, Bahrain, Balkans, Bosnia, Botswana, Britain, Burkina Faso, Canada, Central America (country/location of origin), Central Asia, Chile, China, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Egypt, Estonia, Eswatini, Europe, Finland, Georgia, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Himalayas, Hungary, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Lesser Antilles (country/location of origin), Libya, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mediterranean, Middle East, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Norway, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Russia, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Senegal, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America (country/location of origin), Suriname, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Tasmania (country/location of origin), United Arab Emirates, UAE, Uruguay, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, West Africa, West Indies (country/location of origin), Zambia, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
Young shoots are eaten as a vegetable. They can also be pickled. The young leaves are dried and ground and mixed with cereal flour for dumplings. Starch can be extracted from the roots. The rhizomes can also be cooked like potatoes. The stems have been ground into powder for baking. They are also dried and made into a marsh-mellow like snack. The stems exude a sweet gum-like substance that can be eaten. The seeds can be eaten.
It is sold in local markets in China.
Edible parts
Root, shoots, seeds, sap, cereal, rhizome, tea
How it is grown
It can be grown from seed or by division of the clump. Seed are difficult and slow to germinate.
Its other names
Local names
Bennels, Boss, Butsu mu, Cana hueca, Cana paja, Cane, Carrizo, Charr-ak, Dambu, Dharill, Dila, Djarg, Jaark, Kaerk, Kowat, Legseyba, Lu wei gen, Nad, Nanfang luwei, Narkat, Navadni trst, Plumacho, Qasab, Reed grass, Roog, Taark, Taerk, Takror, Tark, Tark-korn, Traska, Trestie, Tropical reed, Trostnik ozernyi, Wild broomcorn
Synonyms
Phragmites communis Trin.; Arundo phragmites L.; Arundo australis Cav.; Arundo vulgaris Lam.; Phragmites communis var. stenophylla Boiss.; Phragmites maxima (Forssk.) Blatter & McCann; Phragmites martinicensis Trin. ex Steud.; Phragmites phragmites (L.) Speg.; Trichoon phragmites (Linn.) Rendle;