Phragmites
Phragmites australis subsp. australis
Image by ‘Geonarva’ on Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Physical: Phragmites is a very tall grass that can grow up to 15 feet high. They have feathery seed plumes at the top of their stem that turn a white/tan color when they mature. Their stems are gray or green during growing season and have sheath-like leaves that can grow to be 2 feet in length.
Habitat: Phragmites is found in brackish water along the waters edge, disturbed areas, dredge spoil deposit areas, and even construction sites. This type of plant has an aggressive growth rate. Phragmites has a tendency to out-compete other plants. Phragmites is a well-populated plant.
Feeding: This plant has no known predators.
Breeding: Phragmites breed in late June and the seeds form by August. The reeds of Phragmites open, letting seeds out, and they sprout new shoots from rhizomes. Phragmites has a horizontal root system underground.
