Phragmites

Phragmites, what are they?  A wetland species found across the United States  It is also known as a common reed

Phragmites Characteristics  It can grow up to six meters high  This plant is very long lived

Phragmites Leaves  The leaves are defined as lanceolet –lanceolet means that they are longer than they are wide  They are cm long and 1-4 cm wide

Phragmites Flowers  The flowers develop by mid summer  They are arranges in spikelets  Spikelets are very flat and very wide  These flowers aid in reproduction

Phragmites

Phragmites - Types  Native -Phragmites australis  Non-Native -Phragmites communis

Phragmites australis

Phragmites Communis

DifferencesBetweenNative&Non-NativeSpecies

Differences Between Native and Non-Native Location  Native – Common across the U.S.  Non-Native – Very common in the eastern states along the Atlantic Ocean and spreading across much of the Midwest and in parts of the Pacific Northwest

Differences Between Native and Non-Native Leave Sheaths  Native – fall off in the fall and they are very easily removed if they do stay on the stem  Non-Native – the leaf sheaths stay on the plant. They are difficult to remove. But can be by using a twisting motion.

Differences Between Native and Non-Native Stem color at base (spring/summer)  Native – Appears to be red to chestnut in color  Non-Native – Appears to be tan or brownish in color

Phragmite – Native Stem During Spring/Summer

Differences Between Native and Non-Native Stem color at base (winter)  Native – light chestnut to light brown or gray

Differences Between Native and Non-Native Stem color at base (winter)  Non-Native – Tan in color

Differences Between Native and Non-Native Stem Texture  Native – Smooth and shiny, it looks polished  Non-Native – Rough and dull, the stems are ribbed, the ridges are visible with the naked eye

Native Stem Texture

Differences Between Native and Non-Native Stem Density  Native – Low  Non- Native - High

Stem Density Native

Stem Density Non-Native

Differences Between Native and Non-Native Leaf Color  Native – Yellow-green  Non-Native – Dark green/gray

Differences Between Native and Non-Native Rhizome Density  Native – Low  Non-Native - High

Differences Between Native and Non-Native Rhizome Density Native

Differences Between Native and Non-Native Rhizome Color  Native – Yellowish  Non-Native – White to light yellow

Reproduction in Phragmites

 Can reproduce by seeds  Can reproduce asexually by means of rhizomes

Reproduction in Phragmites  What are rhizomes? - horizontal, usually underground stem of a plant that often sends out roots and shoots from its nodes

Reproduction in Phragmites  Temperature, Salinity and water levels can affect seed germination  Germination means to cause to grow or sprout  Germination will increase with increasing temperature between 16 o C to 25 o C

Reproduction in Phragmites  Germination is not affected by salinities below 10 parts per million (1%) but it does decline at higher salinities  Water depths of more than 5 cm and salinities above 20 parts per million (2%) prevent germination Phragmites - Reproduction GTUEYMCRSHBSYCXQGMFMPCSNG AELVDHDNEUDORIWHVYYQNHDTJ KCRGXUCVMKTDGZXBKBEDAYOWD UVAMDQVTOBWLGWWPMFWRFMDAE WGUSIZXAZNJTZOOJTMHYAAXQF TETSFNANIODYXHXKVVHLLBPTA FWUIWJAJHNTKETMGUMTOAUISD AESSSDPTRWJLAXNAKDULAPTRI TGRXNROFICSFJQSJPGBDJSJJS DBTJBXNLXOMSEENTUJQKGFBTQ CJXAFJOFFMNCXOCPRTDKRWSQL LPIRFIILUXJUBTRFEKHNNACHS ESPTPFTFCLAKQZMMIYAOSSXVI CEECRACDDLZARDPIGKVUAOPZH FLRCNMUPLISFPEWWOUZLRYOZX WLXSTRDYNFQLRIFLIMIHVOUJV AFBXLDOANNJAEZPNBNLFIBCHA HACDRURTYVTOKVGJIZNECOXCO YPNPACPCYUUKMIETOVNNDSAXU OFDWKAECRAEFBQYLVXGMFJMML ZZBNPXREICZLURPURITRXEOIY MVFKVVHCEUTZYKJJOEPXJZSDG DNIFXPHGNWKDNFPDXDTMPKHQW UQGHXJDOMTUHNKUUUQKAGMGPB LLYHGCHOSCGDWCBISOVXWSUVA ASEXUALLYGERMINATIONREPRODUCTION RHIZOMESSALINITYTEMPERATURE WATER-LEVELS

HistoryofPhragmites

History of Phragmites  During the 1900’s rapidly spread and invaded fresh and brackish wetlands.  These plants altered the landscape of the marsh-estuary system

History of Phragmites  The expansion may have been caused by human activity  These human activities may have led to habitat destruction, sedimentation and decreased oxygen levels in water and sediment in marsh areas

History of Phragmites How These Plants Can Be Used  Feed for cattle and horses  Building dwellings, lattice, fences  Arrows by Indians  Weaving for mats and carrying nets  Pulps for rayon and paper  Pens for writing on parchment  Rope Making

History of Phragmites How These Plants Can Be Used  Thatching, making baskets and sandals  Brooms  Medicine

History of Phragmites How These Plants Can Be Used in Medicine  This plant has been used in folk remedies for: LeukemiaBronchitisCancerCoughDiabetes

History of Phragmites How These Plants Can Be Used in Medicine FeverHiccupNauseaSoreStomach