Scientific Name

Phragmites australia

Family

Poaceae

Description

Common reed is a perennial grass that grows to 4 m tall in both fresh water 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.

Distribution

Coomon reed grows along the entire Queensland coast.

Flowering Period

Distribution

Features