Poaceae

P. australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steudel, Nom. ed. 2, 2:324 (1841). Syn:Arundo australis Cav. in Ann. Hist. Nat. 1:100 (1799); Phragmites communis Trin., Fund. Agrost. 134(1820). Ic: Fl. Iraq 9: t. 143 (1968); Hubbard, Grasses ed. 2:348 (1968), as P. communis; Polunin, Fls. Europe no. 1740 (1969), as P. communis.
Perennial. Stems to 3 m, usually simple. Ligule a dense fringe of hairs, 0.5-1 mm, when young also with a row of erect hairs to 1 cm on dorsal surface. Leaf blades contracted at base, to 60 x 3 cm, tapering to a long fine apex, scabrid on margins. Panicle to 40 cm, hairy at bases of fascicles. Spikelets 3-6-flowered. Glumes unequal, glabrous; lower ovate, acute, 3-4 mm, upper ovate-lanceolate, acute, 5-6 mm. Lemma narrowly lanceolate, long-pointed, 9-10 mm, lowest lemma twice as long as upper glume. Hairs on rachilla 7-9 mm. Anthers 1-1.7 mm. Fl. 8-10. Lakes, rivers, ditches, swamps, fens, canal banks, seashores, s. 1.-2400 m.
Based on a specimen collected near Port Jackson, Australia, in 1799 by Cavanilles (hob. MA).
Widespread. A1(E) Tekirdağ: 10km W. of Inecik, A. Baytop (ISTE 12447)! A 1(A) Balıkesir: Marmara adasi, S. side, A. Baytop (ISTE 13812)! A2(E) Istanbul: Florya, 18 x 1896,Azn.! A2(A) Kocaeli: izmit,Kirazdere,s.l., A. Baytop (ISTE 18569)! A3 Bolu: Abant G., 1350 m, A. Baytop (ISTE 18442)! A4 Bolu: ÇağaG., between Gerede and Bolu, 1150 m, D. 39031! A5 Kastamonu : Taşköprü, 600 m, A. Baytop (İSTE 38188)! A8 Rize:Ikizdere, Başköy (Çimil), Cermanin Y., 2400 m, D.21024! A9Kars: Çildir G., T. Baytop (İSTE 18332)! A10Kars: N.of Orta Alican, 800m, Sorger & Kit-Tan84-72-66(1). Bl Manisa: Akhisar, Bağda (İSTE 1041)! B2 Kütahya: Murat Da. below Hamam, 1350 m, Çirpici (İSTE 41466)! B3 Afyon: 6 km from Çay to Bolvadin, A. Baytop (ISTE 33986)! B4 Konya: Cihanbeyli, Boluk G., 1010 m, Khan et al. 449! B6 Malatya: 10 km from Darende to Malatya, 970 m, A. Baytop (ISTE 37745)! B/C7 Urfa/Elaziğ: Urfa to Elaziğ, Hand.-Mazz. B8 Erzurum: Aşkale, 1625 m, A. Baytop (İSTE 33587)! B9 Bitlis: Nemrut Da., 2250 m, Spencer 0103! B10 Kars: 8-12 km E. of Iğdir D.Ü.Ç., 800 m, D. 43846! Cl Izmir; 5 km to Selçuk, S. & V. Başaran (İSTE 38891)! C2 Muğla: Marmaris, Ölü boğazi, T. Baytop (ISTE 38835)! C3 Burdur: Bağasary to Kesik, Önür (ISTE 38893)! C4 Konya: 10 km from Konya to Ereğli, 1030 m, A. Baytop (ISTE 3748I)! C5 Niğde: 14 km from Çamardi to Solakli, 1340 m, A. Baytop (ISTE 37541)! C6 Adiyaman: Gölbaşı, 870 m, A. Baytop (ISTE 37790)! C9 Hakkari: Zab gorge nr Kalolans, D. 23859! C10 Hakkari: Yüksekova, 1950 m, Duncan & Tait 214! Is: Lesvos, Rech. 5706; Rodhos, 300 m, Fiori 51.
Temperate Eurasia, extending into the tropics. Euro-Sib, element. The Common Reed (in Turkish, 'kamiş') propagates quickly and forms large stands in swamps and other wet places. The leafy stems are used for roofing purposes. Var. stenophylla (Boiss.) Bor, with narrower, convolute leaves, has been recorded from Bl Izmir (Izmir, Kotschy!) and B4 Ankara (S.W. side of Tuz G., Wag-enitz & Beug 324!). It must be regarded as a variant adapted to dry or saline habitats. Such variants are often met with on the dry sandy banks of large canals, while in the watery bed of the canal the plants are much taller and have broader flat leaves (e.g. B3 Eskişehir: 10 km from Kaymaz to Çifteler, 850 m, A. Baytop ISTE 38739!).