Grass Description
Found in wet or muddy ground along streams, ditches, in marshes, and at the edges of lakes and ponds.
General Description
Stout erect rhizomatous and stoloniferous perennial, often forming dense stands. Stems are up to 20 feet tall and branch above the base of the plant and at stem nodes. Stems are tan in color and ridged or ribbed.
Differs from Arundo sp. in having wedge-shaped light to dark brown areas at base of blades. Perennials up to 13 feet tall with broad blades and large terminal plumose seedheads and several flowered spikelets.
Flower Characteristics
Seedheads spreading, bushy, egg shaped, usually purple or golden in color, up to 20 inches long. Spikelets have 3 to 10 florets that appear gray at maturity due to the growth of long, silky hairs from each spikelet. Lemma tips long, taper to sharp point.
Vegetative Characteristics
Bluish-green blades are smooth, up to 2 feet long by 1-1/4 inches wide with pointed tips, and are flat or folded.
Young plants of common reed are considered very palatable and are readily grazed by sheep and cattle. Mature plants are tough and unpalatable to livestock and wildlife.