Reed (plant)

Reed (plant)

In polyphyletic botany, a reed is a type of tall, grass-like plant of wet places, it is also very flamable; 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

• 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 (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.