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The Tale of Phragmites ~ Reed Grass

Phragmites appears to be a blessing and a curse.

It is commonly raised and used in Europe as a premium thatching material.

In the U.S. there appear to be native and non-native species, as well as mutations. The last two can be very invasive.

It is also valued as a medicinal plant, and has many other uses.

Efforts to control: Ernie Kafkas says the DEQ uses chemicals, burns, cuts late in fall before dormancy - to slow down the spread and reduce the area.  Other groups are burning, then putting a drop of a product such as Round Up or "Habitat" (more expensive than round up, but more ecological) on EACH plant when it emerges as new growth.  This mimimizes the effect on the wetland. D. Vanpoolen.

Invasive Species: http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/esadocs/documnts/phraaus.html

USDA report: http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PHAU7

Thatching Material:

Thatching ~ Wikipedia description: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thatching

Thatching in the 21st Century: http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/thatch/thatch.htm

Good General Website on Reed Grass

http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weed_info/Phragmites_australis.html

General Uses:

Common reed provides high quality warm-season forage and is readily eaten by cattle and horses. However, it becomes tough and unpalatable after maturity. Animals grazing this grass during winter should be fed a protein concentrate. Extensively used in Mediterranean region and elsewhere for building dwellings, lattices, fences, arrows by Indians, and for weaving mats and carrying nets. Young shoots sometimes used as a vegetable. The stalks exude a manna-like gum which is eaten. The rhizomes and roots also serve as emergency food. In Russia they are harvested and processed into starch. A variegated form is grown as an ornamental. The reed is useful in the manufacture of pulps for rayon and paper. It contains over 50 percent cellulose and has a fibre 0.8–3.0 mm long and 5.0–30.5 mm in diameter. Pens for writing on parchment were cut and fashioned from this reed, and the stems were used as a linear measuring device. It is also useful in the production of homogeneous boards. It can be processed into a fine fibrous material suitable as a filler in upholstery. Flowering stalks yield a fiber suitable for rope making. It is also used for thatching and for making partitions, fences, coarse mats, baskets, sandals, etc. Thin stems are made into pens; panicles are used for making brooms and for decoration. http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Phragmites_australis.html

Some Medicinal uses:http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Phragmites_australis.html

Invasive issues.

Michigan battles Invasive Species

http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/_kd/Items/actions.cfm?action=Show&item_id=2261&destination=ShowItem

Recent Research on Phragmites australis in North America: Implications for Management, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.  Saltonstall, K., 2003.

http://www.sgnis.org/publicat/proceed/aide/salt2003.htm

Global Invasive Species Data

http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=301&fr=1&sts=

Phragmite products!

"Phragwrites". Pens made from Phragmites!

Lois Robbins writes:

(“Phragmats”) Here’s another idea – place mats*:  thin stalks cut in 1’ lengths, then laid side-by-side till they take up 1’5”, and woven together with string or hand-made twine from natural materials.

* I may be the only person who still uses them.

Deanne responds. 

I have made cording from Dog Bane, and also corn husks, and used those strings to make a small matt. It works great! There is a type of sewing machine that will make matts using wire (I believe). I heard of this through Frank Andreson, from Germany (?) who was teaching at Fox Maple School.  This could produce matts, fences, blinds, etc.  I can imagine reed matts rolled up and becoming like a light-weight pole for construction and furniture.  Boats can be made.  How about a raft?  That sounds relatively easy and fun.