Common Reed, Phragmites australis

The Common Reed is a very large member of the Graminae family that can reach a height of 5 m. It is found mainly in the highest part of marshes, but also along the edge of roads and fields.

 

Common Reed, Phragmites australis

Like Reed Canarygrass, there is an indigenous variety of Common Reed and a more invasive European variety.

Illustration of Common Reed
Source: Crow and Hellquist 2000.

Phragmites australis

a. Habit

b. Spikelet

c. Floret

Location of Common reed
along the St. Lawrence River between 2008 and 2010

Location of Common reed along the St. Lawrence River between 2008 and 2010

Common reed is a gregarious species that typically forms monospecific colonies.  When present, it is the dominant species. In 2008-2010, scientists observed a high level of invasion at alomost 50% of the sites where the species was present, including Lavallière Bay. Large colonies occur in Lake Saint-François, on Îles de la Paix in Lake Saint-Louis, on Boucherville islands and in Lavallière Bay.

Literature

Crow, G.E. and C.B. Hellquist. 2000. Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Northeastern North America: A Revised and Enlarged Edition of Norman C. Fassett’s A Manual of Aquatic Plants. Volume One – Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms and Angiosperms: Dicotyledons. The University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, WI. 480 pages.

Crow, G.E. and C.B. Hellquist. 2000. Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Northeastern North America: A Revised and Enlarged Edition of Norman C. Fassett’s A Manual of Aquatic Plants. Volume Two – Angiosperms: Monocotyledons. The University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, WI. 400 pages.

Delisle, F., C. Lavoie, M. Jean, and D. Lachance. 2003. Reconstructing the spread of invasive plants: Taking into account biases associated with herbarium specimens. Journal of Biogeography 30: 1033-1042.

Groupe Fleurbec. 1987. Plantes sauvages des lacs, rivières et tourbières. Groupe Fleurbec, Montreal, Canada. 400 pages.

Lavoie, C., M. Jean, F. Delisle, and G. Létourneau. 2003. Exotic plant species of the St. Lawrence River wetlands: A spatial and historical analysis. Journal of Biogeography 30: 537-549.

Marie-Victorin, F.E.C. 1997. Flore laurentienne, 3e édition mise à jour et annotée, 1995. Les Presses de l’Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada. 1093 pages.

White D.J., E. Haber, and C. Keddy. 1993. Invasive Plants of Natural Habitats in Canada. Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, Ottawa, Canada. 121 pages.