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Graminae
Synonyms
Phragmites communis Trin.
Common names
Common reed (Australia).
Description
A warm-season, rhizomatous, stoloniferous perennial growing
2-4 m high. Leaf-blades flat, smooth, 15-45 cm long, 1-5 cm wide. Seed-head
an open panicle, purplish or tawny, flaglike appearance after seeds shatter.
Spikelets open toward maturity to show a mass of dense soft hairs (Tothill
& Hacker, 1973).
Distribution
Pan-tropical.
Season of growth
Perennial.
Rainfall requirements
It is a swamp grass and so requires high moisture conditions.
Drought tolerance
It survives droughts until the soil dries out.
Soil requirements
It grows best in firm mineral clays.
Ability to spread naturally
It spreads from an aggressive root system and stolons.
Land preparation for establishment
It is not planted; it occurs and spreads naturally.
Tolerance to herbicides
It is controlled by a combination of mechanical and chemical
means. Reeds are allowed to reach about 1 m in height before spraying,
as lush growth is necessary for the herbicide to be effective. Dalapon
is sprayed at 5.5 kg/ha, two or three times at ten-day intervals. One application
of dalapon at 8.5 kg/ha plus 2.8 litres of commercial amitrole as a combination
spray also gives good control. Amitrole alone at 12 litres/ha, sprayed
first before flowering (when the reed is commonly 2-3 m high), may be successful
but gives erratic results. Patches of reed can be treated with heavy doses
of dalapon or bromacil, at 17 kg/ha, to kill off a large proportion of
the underground runners, but high cost and danger to (sugar cane) crops
may preclude this heavy use. Most chemical control should take place during
fallow periods when there is less danger to crops (Linedale, 1974).
Vigour of growth and growth
rhythm
In the United States, growth starts in February (early spring)
and foliage stays green until frost. New shoots grow from buds at nodes
of old stems, stolons and rhizomes.
Response to defoliation
It cannot stand prolonged heavy grazing. Its upright growth
makes it easy for livestock to remove all the leaves.
Grazing management
For maximum production no more than half of the current year's
growth (by weight) should be grazed off during the growing season. Grazing
deferments of 60-90 days every two to three years during the growing season
improve the plants' vigour. Water control that lowers the water level but
does not drain the area increases production.
Response to fire
It tolerates burning if water is above the soil surface, but
burning is not essential for management.
Main attributes
It stabilizes banks and drains against erosion in non-agricultural
areas. It is useful for temporary roofing, paper and arrows.
Main deficiencies
It is a problem in irrigation drains, roadside ditches and
in some sugar-cane fields.
Optimum temperature for
growth
30-35°C.
Response to light
It prefers full sunlight.
Ability to compete with
weeds
It dominates other species and is usually a weed itself in
drains and irrigation channels.
Palatability
It is palatable only in the very young stage.
Chemical analysis and
digestibility
It provides high-quality warm-season forage but becomes tough
and unpalatable after maturity.
Natural habitat
Swamps, drains, moist headlands.
Tolerance to flooding
It will tolerate considerable flooding but prefers very damp,
rather than continually wet, conditions (Linedale, 1974). It does best
where water level fluctuates from 15 cm below the soil surface to 15 cm
above (Leithead, Yarlett & Shiflet, 1971).
Fertilizer requirements
It is not fertilized.
Compatibility with other
grasses and legumes
It grows as a monospecific sward.
Genetics and reproduction
2n=36, 48, 54, 96 (Fedorov, 1974).
Economics
The common reed in southern Queensland coastal areas has spread
out from its natural swampy areas into drains and sugar-cane farms, where
it smothers young plants and ratoon crops, and offers strong competition
to advanced cane. Its aggressive root system and good response to fertilizers
are the main problems in its spread (Linedale, 1974). However, Phragmites
stands are very important for wild life. The species is also widely used
for thatching and matting and in some countries, e.g. Romania and Poland,
it is harvested in large quantities as raw material for the paper and chemical
industries (Cook, 1974). Common reed has been used in the south-western
United States for lattices in constructing adobe houses. Indians have used
the stems for arrows and for weaving mats and nets (Leithead, Yarlett &
Shiflet, 1971).
Animal production
No figures for animal production have been found.
Further reading
Linedale, 1974.
Tolerance to salinity
It tolerates moderate salinity, but grows mainly in brackish
water.
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