Phragmites - does it grow over here... and where?
As it says in the title really! Do we have Phragmites in the UK?
Leo
As it says in the title really! Do we have Phragmites in the UK?
Leo
Phragmites - does it grow over here... and where?
- Thread starter Stanleythecat
- Start date
Yes my mums house is covered in it! it's used for thatching,although she bought it from Norfolk somewhere, I woulod say get down to a pond and have a look.
forestwalker
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
P. australis is common reed in english, has a huge distribution over the northern hemisphere (http://linnaeus.nrm.se/flora/mono/poa/phrag/phraaus.html and in particular the map at http://linnaeus.nrm.se/flora/mono/poa/phrag/phraausv.jpg). Go look in your local eutrophic lake, it is characteristic for those.
Lots of it! When dry it makes wonderful kindling. I keep bundles of it handy as it is very lightweight.
Thanks Guys
Native species! Should be able to find some then! We've got reedmace everywhere around here, I just haven't noticed any common reed. Harvestman, does it grow to a reasonable diameter?
Saw a chap on paleoplanet make a small flute from a piece of it.
Leo
Native species! Should be able to find some then! We've got reedmace everywhere around here, I just haven't noticed any common reed. Harvestman, does it grow to a reasonable diameter?
Saw a chap on paleoplanet make a small flute from a piece of it.
Leo
Probably not enough for a flute. Maybe a small whistle at best. Was discussing flute making with some chaps at a woodworking show on the weekend, and they felt that drilling out a cylinder of wood was best. If you want a pre-hollowed natural 'wood', then they thought that elder was really the only candidate, although you might be ok with bamboo too.
There's a comment there somewhere... nope better not.
So is it generally thin stemmed i.e 5-10mm in the UK?
Thanks Harvestman, elder does seem to be my one and only option at the mo. I'm just trying to gather a pallet of potentials.
Leo
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