What is it?
Phragmites australis is a clonal grass species with woody hollow culms which can grow up to six meters in height. Leaves are lanceolate, often 20-40 cm long and 1-4 cm wide. Flowers develop by mid summer and are arranged in tawny spikelets with many tufts of silky hair. P. australis is wind-pollinated but self-incompatible. Seed set is highly variable and occurs through fall and winter and may be important in colonization of new areas. Germination occurs in spring on exposed moist soils. Vegetative spread by below-ground rhizomes can result in dense clones with up to 200 stems/m2.
Where is it?
What is being done about it?
In the late summer of 2010, the five currently known stands were treated professionally by Savin Lake Services in a partnership with land owners and the Long Lake Association.