Reed mannagrass (Glyceria maxima)

Where?

Grows gregariously as a reed bed on banks or in ditches with standing or slowly flowing water and strongly changing water levels. It prefers nutrient- and base-rich, mostly calcareous, humic muddy soils and is light- and heat-loving.

Appearance?

Reed mannagrass is a perennial herbaceous plant 80 to 150 (sometimes 200) cm tall, with widely creeping, stout rhizomes. The culms are round with up to 1 cm in diameter. The leaves are glabrous and rough, growing up to 60 cm long and up to 2 cm wide. The flower panicles grow between 20 and 40 cm long and stand in clusters of spikes up to 1 cm long. The spikes are narrowly elongated with five to eleven brownish white flowers. The flowering period is from June to August.

Special Features?

Is a nutritious forage plant and is readily eaten by cattle and horses. On riverbanks it is suitable for the containment of erosion.