A tall worldwide wetland grass forming dense colonies along lakes and rivers, used historically for thatching, basketry, and providing critical waterfowl habitat.
Description
Common reed has hollow rigid stems with long flat blue-green leaves and large fluffy purple-brown flower plumes that fade to silver, persisting through winter.
Cultivation
Reed spreads aggressively by rhizomes and seeds and is one of the most widespread plants in the world. A non-native strain is invasive in North American wetlands.
Uses
Reed thatch has roofed European houses for thousands of years and is still in use today. It also stabilizes river banks, filters wastewater in constructed wetlands, and shelters nesting birds.
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Reed starts with R and ends with D. Browse other plants along the same letter.
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