Reed (plant)

Reeds growing in saltmarsh in the estuary of the River Tay.

A German thatcher using reed

Reed is common name for several tall, grass-like plants of wetlands. They are all members of the order Poales (in the modern, expanded circumscription), and include:

In the Poaceae (grass) family

• Common reed (Phragmites australis Cav.), the original species named reed
• Giant reed (Arundo donax L.), used for making reeds for musical instruments
• Burma reed (Neyraudia reynaudiana)
• Reed canary-grass (Phalaris arundinacea)
• Reed sweet-grass (Glyceria maxima)
• Small-reed (Calamagrostis species)

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

• Bur-reed (Sparganium species)

In the Typhaceae family

• Reed-mace (Typha species), also called bulrush or cattail

In the Restionaceae family

• Cape thatching reed (Elegia 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" are not in fact reed at all, but long-stemmed wheat straw.

See also

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Reed.

• Constructed wetland
• Reed bed
• Reed boat
• Reed fields
• Thatching