Reed (plant)
Reed is a generic polyphyletic botanical term used to describe numerous tall, grass-like plants of wet places, which are the namesake vegetation of reed beds. They are all members of the order Poales (in the modern, expanded cicrumscription), and include:
- In the Poaceae (grass) family
- In the Cyperaceae (sedge) family
- Paper reed or papyrus (Cyperus papyrus), the source of the Ancient Egyptian writing material, also used for making boats
- In the Sparganiaceae family
- In the Typhaceae family
- Reed-mace (Typha species), also called bulrush or cattail
- In the Restionaceae family
- Cape Thatching Reed (Chrondopetalum tectorum), a restio originating from the South-western Cape, South Africa.
- Thatching Reed (Thamnochortus insignis), another restio species originating from the same geographic region.
Use in thatching
Phragmites australis, the common reed, is used in many areas for thatching roofs. In the United Kingdom, common reed used for this purpose is known as "Norfolk reed" or "water reed". However, "wheat reed" and "Devon reed", also used for thatching, are not in fact reed, but long-stemmed wheat straw.
See also