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COMMON REED FACTS |
Map is from The Atlas of Living Australia web site, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License
Common Name
Common Reed
Description
Common reed is a perennial grass that grows to 4 m tall in both fresh and brackish water.
Its leaves are alternate, up to 70 cm long and 3.5 cm wide, and smooth in appearance.
The plant's flowers are 15-30 cm long and 5-20 cm wide. The flower head changes colour with age, becoming silvery grey.
It flowers between September and October, but dead flower heads often remain for some time after the flowering period.
Common reed often invades saltcouch (Sporobolus virginicus) grasslands where there is ponding of fresh or brackish water.
Habitat
marshes, lagoons, edges of ponds , creek edges, tidal wetlands
Distribution
Found in all states of Australia. Most common in eastern and southern states - Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania. Also found in may other parts of the world
Growth Characteristics
Height (m): 2 - 4
Spread (m): 2 - 5
Soil Texture: sand, loam, clay
Soil pH: acid soils, neutral soils, alkaliine soils
Frost Sensitivity: resistant
Minimum Rainfall (mm): the species is best suited to constantly moist sites
Flower Colour: brown
Flower Season: spring
(source: SA State Flora Catalog)
Wildlife Interest
birds, insects, nest small animals protection
Classification
| Class: | Liliopsida | | Order: | Poales | | Family: | Poaceae | | Genus: | Phragmites | | Species: | australis | | Common Name: | Common Reed |
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.jpg "Phragmites australis")
.jpg "Phragmites australis")
.jpg "Phragmites australis")