Suomi
Svenska
Scandinavian Small-Reed
Calamagrostis phragmitoides
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Scandinavian Small-Reed is a tall, broad-leaved grass of wet places. It often forms dense patches along shores, wet meadows, ditches and swampy woods. The narrow, sometimes bluish‑purplish plume stands well above the leaves.
Did you know?
- Each leaf has a long, ragged little flap where it meets the stem—an easy field clue.
- The plume often looks bluish‑purple at first and later turns brownish.
About the species
Identification
A robust perennial grass 80–200 cm tall, forming dense clumps. Stems are upright, hollow and a bit rough, branching from the base and slightly hairy just below the joints. Leaves are flat, narrow (about 4–6 mm), long‑tapering, rough on the upper side and dull beneath; they wrap around the stem, and at their base there is a 5–10 mm upright, ragged‑edged flap. Flower head is a 10–18 cm narrow cone‑shaped plume, first bluish‑purple, later brownish. Tell it from reed canary‑grass and common reed by its much narrower leaves and the neat, often purplish, narrow plume. Flowers in Finland in mid to late summer (July–August).
Plant group
Grasses, sedges and rushes
Habitat
mire
Flowering
Jul–Aug
About the habitat
Grows on wet, nutrient‑rich ground: swampy woods, edges of marshes, flood meadows, banks of streams and lakes, and in ditches and thickets; often forming dense stands. Common throughout the country.
Sources
Photo: Rolf Engstrand, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Calamagrostis phragmitoides 01.JPG
Text: Pinkka: BIO-503 Suomen kasvisto ja kasvillisuus - Tunturit: tunturikoivikot, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40834
Text: Pinkka: Maatalouslajintuntemus - 1-sirkkaiset: Heinämäiset, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40834
Text: Wikipedia (Finnish), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korpikastikka
