Short Description
Common reed is a grass and can grow up to four metres high. It is mainly found on the banks of rivers and lakes.
The leaves are elongated and narrow. Each leaf has two transverse folds. At the base of each leaf a leaf sheath encloses the stem. There is a white fringe of hairs at the base.
The stems grow upright and are robust.
The tiny and inconspicuous flowers sit together in spikelets. The spikelets form a panicle-like inflorescence that can grow up to 50 centimetres long. It resembles a feather or a paintbrush.
The ripe fruits remain in the spikelets. They have silvery hairs and disperse flying or floating.
Features
Common reed
Phragmites australis
very tall
In the city
Common reed is often found in the reed zone of standing and slow-flowing waters up to one metre deep. It can also be found on damp ground or in alluvial forests.
As the reed population in Berlin was severely endangered, the city developed a special reed protection programme in the 1980s.
Fun Facts
The flowering period is from July to September.
In winter, reed is cut in some areas of northern Germany and Europe, but also in China, as it is traditionally used as a roof covering.
It can spread strongly via a rootstock, which can grow up to three centimetres per day.
Water rolls off the leaves similar to a lotus blossom, taking all dirt particles with it.
Reed can be used as a purification plant for a near-natural wastewater treatment.
Common reed is the largest native grass in Germany.
- Endangerment level Germany: not endangered
The dried roots can be used to make flour for bread. The young shoots can be eaten as vegetables.
Sources
Habitus, Darkone, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phragmites_australis_Schilfrohr.jpg
Blütenstand, MatthiasKabel, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phragmites_australis_blossom.jpg
Schilfrohrgürtel an einem See, Botaurus stellaris, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Schwielowsee-Schilfrohrguertel-01.jpg
Page „Schilfrohr“. : Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Date of last revision: 23.04.2021, URL: https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Schilfrohr&oldid=211214501 (Accessed: 15.07.2021).
Wohlers, W. (2020) Phragmites australis – Schilfrohr oder Reet (JKI-Pflanzenportraits), URL: https://offene-naturfuehrer.de/web/Phragmites_australis_%E2%80%93_Schilfrohr_oder_Reet_(JKI-Pflanzenportraits) (Accessed: 05.07.2021).
Senatsverwaltung für Umwelt, Verkehr und Klimaschutz Berlin (n.d.) Röhrichtschutzprogramm Berlin, URL: https://www.berlin.de/sen/uvk/natur-und-gruen/naturschutz/biotopschutz/roehrichtschutzprogramm/ (Accessed: 15.07.2021).