Phragmites australis

common reed - Though the eight- to ten-foot stems of common reed are highly visible in wetlands, roadside ditches, and salt marshes along coasts, their status is subject to debate. Soil records indicate the presence of phragmites in Connecticut 3,000 years ago, a naturally occurring part of many tidal and non-tidal wetland habitats. In the modern era, development and agriculture in and around wetlands have created disturbed situations that phragmites is well suited to exploit. Some scientists believe that around 1900 a new aggressive strain of Phragmites australis was introduced from Europe, and it is this strain that is invasive. Whether native or exotic, the ecological drawbacks are obvious as diverse wetland communities become monotonous stands of Phragmites australis. [image: (c) New England Wild Flower Society/ Jean Baxter]

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