Common Reed - Phragmites australis

The Common Reed forms large beds; it has round, hollow stems, which typically grow to 2 metres in height, but may reach 4 metres. These stems grow from a system of stout, creeping rhizomes. The flat leaves taper into a point, and are attached to the stem by smooth sheaths, which are loose so that the leaves all point in one direction in the wind. The flowers are borne on highly branching purple inflorescences, which measure from 20 to 60 cm in length. The flowers are grouped into 'spikelets', which are 10-15 mm in length and support 1 to 6 flowers.

The ligule is a fringe of hairs

On mud or in shallow water; it is found in swamps and fens, ditches, at the edges of lakes, ponds, and rivers as well as in coastal lagoons, brackish swamps and estuaries.

Flowering August to October.

Perennial.

Widespread and common in Britain.

It is quite frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 102 of the 617 tetrads.