Non-native phragmites are easy to spot when walking or driving along wetlands in your car. They are an aggressive, wetland grass that dies in the winter, and sprouts back up in the spring to take over more acres of land. Why do so many people hate this plant? I will list the top five: 1. Try walking through a bunch of phragmites! The stalks are hard and the long sword-like leaves are razor sharp! AND to make things worse there are tons, and tons of bugs! 2. Phragmites grow so tall you can't see over them, they are like a huge hedge that can block a beautiful view. 3. When phragmites dry out they leave behind much tinder that if sparked by lightning, a match, burning cigar or other heat source, they combust and burst into flames. 4. Phragmites can outgrow a marsh. This wetland needs pooling water and low elevation to collect water. The phragmites build up the pool of water with roots, dead stalks and biomass. Soon the marsh is not low enough to collect water and all the animals that depend on the marsh are soon without a place to live. 5. A higher drier marsh area is prime growing for phragmites and they will grow very quickly. Is there anything good about phragmites? The Latvian Bittern nest in phragmites. I love how she walks along the stalks.... Many animals make their home in the phragmites....It is possible that phragmites could offset other environmental problems because they provide so many other benefits to wildlife. Another dilemma, more decisions that humans have to make before they completely rid the planet of phragmites... That's why we need to know these things, you will be making a lot of these decisions in your adult life, which is coming up pretty quickly...
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Mrs. TaylorI love science! Everything about the world is interesting and never boring. I love to study plants, animals, insects, and people. My favorite subjects are my students who are the most unique organisms on the planet! Categories |