Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. subsp. chrysanthus (Mabille) Kerguélen

Spice In the field In the field 2 Inflorescence

Family: GRAMINEAE (POACEAE)

Genus: Phragmites

Sinònims: Phragmites communis Trin.

Catalan common name: Canya borda. Canyet. Canyís. Canyissot. Canyot. Càrritx. Senill. Senís. Xisca.

Spanish common name: Cañiza. Carrizo.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Girona. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Geophyte.

Habitats: Litoral marshes and riparian. Non-saline wetlands (intermittent watercourses, streams, artesian wells, ditches). Marshes and coastal humid soils.

Characteristics: The common reed is a very frequent plant in all the moist zones, canals and ponds. It always lives with the rhizomes inside the sediment under the water even though it can be found in dry places from time to time (then it is usually badly developed). It is characterised by its long, slender stem covered in long, broad leaves. The broad, silky inflorescence appears at the top, slightly hanging. The spikelets have long cilii, which give it this slightly silky texture. It is distinguished from the typical subspecies, which is also found in the Balearics, because it is taller (up to 6 m) and because of its floral feautres (the lower glume is twice as long as the upper glume, in subsp. australis they are similar in size). It is distinguished from Arundo donax, which is the reed, because this one is much more robust and normally much taller). It flowers in summer and autumn.