Native Plants of the Great Lakes
North Branch Restoration Project:
Native Plant and Seed Collection
Cinna Arundinacea / Family:
Poaceae
Common Wood Reed, Swink/Wilhelm # 5
FLOWERING: Early August.
SEED TIMING: Mid-October through November.
HABITAT: Moist woodlands and floodplains. Also moist
clearings and muddy pond margins in upland woods.
DIAGNOSTIC FEATURES: 3 - 6 feet high. A very tall grass
with a large feathery, full inflorescence about 6 inches long. Wide,
coarse, folded leaves which taper to a point. The gray-green panicle
turns staw-colored when ripe.
TO PICK: Dry, light-tan seeds strip easily from panicle
when fully ripened. Sometimes it is necessary to pick when the seed
is not entirely ripe. In such a case it is best to clip the stalk
and allow seeds to ripen in a paper bag. |
