Tall reed (Phragmites karka)

Prumpung or tall reed (Phragmites karka) is a species of plant in the Poaceae, grass with large, hollow stems, chronic, often found growing in damp places, forming dense colonies and used for crafts to support and firewood.

P. karka has chronic reeds with spreading rhizomes and erect stems up to 10 m high, hollow and young shoots grow to form branches on the segments.

The tip has a soft stem and is green with linear stripes and is covered with leaves. The base has a hard stem, woody, bare and yellow or brown or black.

The leaves are ribbon-shaped, 30-80 cm long, 12-40 mm wide and green. The flowers are clustered in panicles, 30-50 cm long, 10-20 cm wide and 9-12 mm spikelets. Generally reproduce vegetatively and rarely flower.

Tall reed grows at elevations near sea level up to 3000 meters along river banks, marshes, wet meadows, mountain slopes and is flood resistant. Widely planted for soil stabilization from erosion. Split tatepal trunks are used instead of bamboo to make roofs and woven materials.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Arundinoideae
Tribe: Molinieae
Genus: Phragmites
Species: Phragmites karka

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