# common reed (*Phragmites australis*) Common reed is a tall grass that grows near water. It has fluffy flower heads that look like soft feathers and can sway gently in the breeze. It's a great home for many animals! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 21 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![common reed](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Phragmites_australis_Schilfrohr.jpg&width=800) Photo: Darkone ( talk · contribs ), CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phragmites_australis_Schilfrohr.jpg) ## Appearance The common reed is a tall, grass-like plant with stout, hollow stems and long, flat, blue-green leaves. Its most distinctive feature is a large, feathery, purplish-brown to golden plume-like flower head that sways in the wind. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Poales - **Family:** Poaceae - **Genus:** Phragmites ## Interesting facts - It's one of the most widespread plants on Earth, found on every continent except Antarctica! - Its tough, hollow stems were historically used to make arrows, mats, and even roofs! - Some cultures have made musical instruments, like flutes, from its sturdy, hollow stalks! - The roots can grow incredibly deep, helping the plant survive droughts and strong winds! ## Special abilities - **Super Spreader:** Common reed can spread rapidly using tough underground stems called rhizomes, helping it colonize new areas. - **Water Filter:** Common reed has roots that can absorb pollutants and heavy metals from water, helping to clean its environment. - **Erosion Controller:** Common reed has a dense network of roots that stabilize soil, preventing erosion along water bodies. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 100-600 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-1.7 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer-fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Shelter:** [Red-winged Blackbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-winged-blackbird) (*Agelaius phoeniceus*) — Builds nests in dense reed beds. - **Eaten by:** [Muskrat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/muskrat) (*Ondatra zibethicus*) — Consumes stems and rhizomes. - **Eaten by:** Mallard (*Anas platyrhynchos*) — Eats seeds and sometimes shoots. - **Shelter:** [Marsh Wren](https://www.snappit.app/explore/marsh-wren) (*Cistothorus palustris*) — Weaves globe-shaped nests within the reeds. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Nitrogen Fixing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nitrogen-fixing): Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants. - [Grass-Like](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grass-like): Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves. - [Fiber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fiber): This human use trait identifies species that yield natural fibers, used by humans for textiles, rope, paper, and other manufactured goods. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Stay on paths when exploring near water and be careful of slippery areas. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify common reed? Compare seed heads, stem shape, how leaves attach, and the joint where leaf meets stem. A patch of mown lawn rarely shows enough for an exact ID. Grass Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is common reed? 100-600 cm ### How big are the flowers on common reed? 1-1.7 cm ### When does common reed bloom? Summer-fall ### Is common reed edible? Yes ### Is common reed toxic? None ### What is common reed's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is common reed pollinated? Wind ## Where to spot - [Barrington Civic Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/barrington-civic-center-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Brooklyn Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brooklyn-botanic-garden) — New York, US · Botanical Garden - [Charleston Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/charleston-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District - [East Windsor Hill Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-windsor-hill-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [French Quarter](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/french-quarter) — US · Neighborhood - [Gary City Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gary-city-center-historic-district) — Indiana, US · Historic District [View all places to see common reed](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/common-reed) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Common Reed: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-reed)