Here in Ohio, it's nigh-impossible to actually find the native phragmites
anymore - the invasive non-native species pushes everything else out and is
a real problem ("phragmites" is well on its way to becoming a curse word in
some circles). One of the big problems with some wetland restoration
projects is how to get rid of the invasive phragmites without also
eliminating any remaining native phragmites.

I'll quote Jim McCormac here, from a post to the Ohio-birds listserv, for
those who aren't really sure what the heck we're talking about:

"If you aren't sure of the plant that is being discussed, it is the very
tall grass known as Giant Reed - to 12-15 feet - that forms large colonies
and has tassel-like seed heads. Large areas of Lake Erie marshes have been
taken over by this plant, as have some wetlands elsewhere in the state,
particularly to the north.

Recent research has shown that virtually all of the Giant Reed in Ohio, and
much of eastern North America, is Eurasian in origin. This is a cosmopolitan
species found on every continent but Antarctica. Fossil records show that it
has been present in North America for at least 40,000 years, and probably
much longer than that, but it no doubt played a much different role
ecologically until much more modern times. Early botanical accounts from
Ohio and elsewhere typically describe Giant Reed as rare or uncommon and
localized, generally speaking.

Evidence suggests that Giant Reed plants from Europe arrived over here about
150 years ago, and the botanical onslaught began. Today, it is the dominant
plant in too many marshes, such as Medusa Marsh just east of Sandusky Bay
and north of State Route 2, or Mentor Marsh. Large clones of Giant Reed
reduce biodiversity in a big way, from everything to native wetland flora to
migrant and breeding birds, and probably nearly everything else that dwells
in wetlands. Controlling the stuff is anything but easy, too.

Andrew R. Sewell, MS, RPA
Principal Investigator
Historical/Industrial Archaeology
Hardlines Design Company
4608 Indianola Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43214
ph. (614)-784-8733
fax (614)-784-9336

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-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tim
Thompson
Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2006 4:31 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: carrizo = phragmites native to US?

Carol Serr wrote:
This may solve it...  But, apparently there is an introduced species as
well...to confuse things.

http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/esadocs/documnts/phraaus.html

"Phragmites australis is found on every continent except Antarctica and
may have the widest distribution of any flowering plant (Tucker 1990).
It is common in and near freshwater, brackish and alkaline wetlands in
the temperate zones world-wide....=20

Because Phragmites has invaded and formed near-monotypic stands in some
North American wetlands only in recent decades there has been some
debate as to whether it is indigenous to this continent or not.
Convincing evidence that it was here long before European contact is now
available from at least two sources. Niering and Warren (1977) found
remains of Phragmites in cores of 3000 year old peat from tidal marshes
in Connecticut. Identifiable Phragmites remains dating from 600 to 900 . . .

etc., etc.,

Tim T. says: I'll buy that! I must have heard from a doubter, but the 
evidence cited seems most compelling. Thanks Carol. Indeed, it may have been

recently "locally" invasive -- I believe this is the case in some wetlands 
around the Chesapeake Estuaries -- but obviously widespread on the 
continent.