AusTraits

Phragmites australis

Explore the data for this taxon in the portal

Family Poaceae

Taxonomy: Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud.

Synonyms: 8 (APC 2026-07-30)
  • Arundo australis Cav. (nomenclatural synonym)
  • Arundo australis Roem. & Schult. (taxonomic synonym)
  • Arundo phragmites L. (taxonomic synonym)
  • Arundo vulgaris Lam. (taxonomic synonym)
  • Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. subsp. australis (nomenclatural synonym)
  • Phragmites communis Trin. (taxonomic synonym)
  • Phragmites explanatus Steud. (taxonomic synonym)
  • Phragmites vulgaris Crep. (taxonomic synonym)

Distribution (APC): WA (naturalised), NT, SA, Qld, NSW, LHI, ACT, Vic, Tas

Profiles: APC, Flora of Australia, ALA, iNaturalist, NSW Flora, NT eFlora, SA eFlora, Vic Flora, Florabase, ATRP

Traits

Top source datasets: ABRS_2022 (3), ABRS_2023 (8), Carey_2003 (3), Catford_2014 (11), Cheal_2017 (8), Crowley_2007 (2), Draper_2023 (3), GrassBase_2014 (7), Hughes_1992 (4), Jordan_2001 (7), Kew_2019_1 (17), Kew_2019_3 (4), Kew_2019_5 (1), Kew_2019_6 (6), Kubiak_2009 (4), Metcalfe_2020_2 (17), Mokany_2015 (1), Moore_2019_2 (55), Morgan_2011_1 (5), Munroe_2019 (1), NHNSW_2014 (1), NHNSW_2014_2 (6), NHNSW_2022 (5), NHNSW_2023 (6), NSWFRD_2014 (6), Nano_2011 (2), Osborne_2014 (1), RBGV_2022 (5), RBGV_2023 (7), SAH_2014 (5), SAH_2022 (2), SAH_2023 (3), Simpson_2021 (2), Sjostrom_2006 (4), WAH_2022_1 (4), WAH_2022_2 (5), WAH_2023_1 (2), WAH_2023_2 (4), Wenk_2022 (2), Wenk_2023 (1), White_2020 (21), Williams_2011 (11), Yang_2023 (1), eFLOWER_Dun_2022 (16). See below for a full list of sources.
Summary: AusTraits contains 80 traits from 289 records in 44 datasets.

Traits by category (click to expand). For categorical traits, the values are listed. For numerical traits, the mean and range are shown.

fire response
  • resprouting_capacity (categorical): partial_resprouting (15); resprouts (11) [sources: Carey_2003; Cheal_2017; Crowley_2007; Kubiak_2009; Moore_2019_2; NSWFRD_2014; Nano_2011; White_2020; Yang_2023]
  • post_fire_recruitment (categorical): post_fire_recruitment (1); post_fire_recruitment_absent (1) [sources: Carey_2003; Cheal_2017]
flower morphology
  • flower_colour (categorical): blue_purple (1); green (1); red_brown (2); white_cream (2) [sources: NHNSW_2014_2; eFLOWER_Dun_2022]
  • sex_type (categorical): hermaphrodite (3); monoecious (1) [sources: Jordan_2001; Metcalfe_2020_2; Sjostrom_2006]
fruit morphology
  • fruit_length (numerical): 1.4 mm (1.4-1.4 mm) [sources: ABRS_2023; Metcalfe_2020_2]
  • fruit_type (categorical): caryopsis (8) [sources: ABRS_2023; Metcalfe_2020_2; NHNSW_2023; RBGV_2023; SAH_2023; Sjostrom_2006; WAH_2023_1; WAH_2023_2]
  • fruit_fleshiness (categorical): dry (3) [sources: Jordan_2001; Metcalfe_2020_2; Sjostrom_2006]
  • fruit_dehiscence (categorical): dehiscent (1); indehiscent (2) [sources: Metcalfe_2020_2; Sjostrom_2006]
leaf morphology
  • leaf_area (numerical): 3712.19 mm2 (818.65-5668.61 mm2) [sources: Catford_2014; Metcalfe_2020_2; Mokany_2015; Moore_2019_2]
  • leaf_length (numerical): 493.75 mm (200-800 mm) [sources: ABRS_2023; GrassBase_2014; RBGV_2023; SAH_2014]
  • leaf_width (numerical): 29.75 mm (8-50 mm) [sources: ABRS_2023; GrassBase_2014; RBGV_2023; SAH_2014]
  • leaf_dry_mass (numerical): 781.38 mg (487.75-1207 mg) [sources: Catford_2014; Moore_2019_2]
  • leaf_mass_per_area (numerical): 130.13 g/m2 (47.78-289.86 g/m2) [sources: Catford_2014; Moore_2019_2; Williams_2011]
  • leaf_dry_matter_content (numerical): 0.34 g/g (0.25-0.41 g/g) [sources: Moore_2019_2]
  • leaf_shape (categorical): narrowly_lanceolate (1) [sources: SAH_2023]
  • leaf_margin (categorical): entire (1) [sources: NHNSW_2014_2]
  • leaf_compoundness (categorical): simple (2) [sources: Metcalfe_2020_2; NHNSW_2014_2]
  • leaf_lamina_posture (categorical): flat (2); involute (1) [sources: NHNSW_2023; RBGV_2023]
  • leaf_phyllotaxis (categorical): alternate (3) [sources: ABRS_2023; NHNSW_2023; RBGV_2023]
  • plant_photosynthetic_organ (categorical): leaf (4) [sources: ABRS_2023; NHNSW_2023; RBGV_2023; SAH_2023]
life history
  • photosynthetic_pathway (categorical): c3 (6); c4 (1) [sources: Kew_2019_3; Metcalfe_2020_2; Moore_2019_2; Munroe_2019; Osborne_2014; White_2020; Williams_2011]
  • plant_growth_form (categorical): graminoid (8); graminoid_not_tussock (1); herb (4); tussock (2) [sources: ABRS_2022; Catford_2014; Hughes_1992; Metcalfe_2020_2; NHNSW_2022; NSWFRD_2014; RBGV_2022; SAH_2022; WAH_2022_1; WAH_2022_2; Wenk_2022; White_2020; Williams_2011]
  • life_form (categorical): hemicryptophyte (3) [sources: Metcalfe_2020_2; Morgan_2011_1; Williams_2011]
  • life_history (categorical): perennial (12) [sources: ABRS_2022; Catford_2014; Cheal_2017; Jordan_2001; Moore_2019_2; Morgan_2011_1; NHNSW_2022; RBGV_2022; Simpson_2021; WAH_2022_1; WAH_2022_2; Wenk_2023]
  • plant_growth_substrate (categorical): aquatic (2); semiaquatic (1) [sources: NHNSW_2022; RBGV_2022; WAH_2022_2]
  • woodiness_detailed (categorical): herbaceous (7) [sources: ABRS_2022; NHNSW_2022; RBGV_2022; SAH_2022; WAH_2022_1; WAH_2022_2; Wenk_2022]
  • stem_growth_habit (categorical): rhizomatous (6); stoloniferous (1) [sources: Catford_2014; Moore_2019_2; NHNSW_2022; RBGV_2022; WAH_2022_1; WAH_2022_2]
  • nitrogen_fixing (categorical): non_nitrogen_fixer (2) [sources: White_2020; Williams_2011]
  • root_structure (categorical): arbuscular_mycorrhizal (2) [sources: Metcalfe_2020_2; Williams_2011]
  • parasitic (categorical): not_parasitic (1) [sources: White_2020]
  • pollination_syndrome (categorical): abiotic (1); self (1); wind (2) [sources: Draper_2023; Metcalfe_2020_2; White_2020]
  • pollination_system (categorical): abiotic (1) [sources: Williams_2011]
  • dispersal_syndrome (categorical): anemochory (6); epizoochory (1); hydrochory (3); zoochory (3) [sources: Catford_2014; Draper_2023; Hughes_1992; Kew_2019_5; Metcalfe_2020_2; Morgan_2011_1; White_2020; Williams_2011]
  • dispersers (categorical): abiotic (1); animals (1); wind (1) [sources: Draper_2023; White_2020]
  • flowering_time (categorical): nnnnnnnnyyyn (2); nnnyyynnnnnn (1); yyyynnnnnnnn (1); yyyyynnnnnyy (1) [sources: Hughes_1992; NHNSW_2014; NHNSW_2014_2; NSWFRD_2014; White_2020]
  • seedbank_longevity_class (categorical): long_persistent (1); transient (1) [sources: Cheal_2017; White_2020]
  • vegetative_reproduction_ability (categorical): vegetative (5) [sources: Catford_2014; Metcalfe_2020_2; Morgan_2011_1; NHNSW_2014_2; White_2020]
  • clonal_spread_mechanism (categorical): belowground_clonal (1); rhizome (1) [sources: Metcalfe_2020_2; Williams_2011]
  • storage_organ (categorical): rhizome (3); rhizome_fleshy (1) [sources: NHNSW_2023; RBGV_2023; WAH_2023_1; WAH_2023_2]
  • bud_bank_location (categorical): basal_buds (1); bud-bearing_root (2); rhizome (4) [sources: Carey_2003; Crowley_2007; Moore_2019_2; Nano_2011; Simpson_2021]
seed morphology
  • seed_dry_mass (numerical): 0.11 mg (0.07-0.18 mg) [sources: Catford_2014; Kew_2019_1; Metcalfe_2020_2; Williams_2011]
  • seed_length (numerical): 7.2 mm (1.4-13 mm) [sources: Jordan_2001; GrassBase_2014]
  • seed_width (numerical): 4 mm (4-4 mm) [sources: Jordan_2001]
whole plant morphology

Sources

dataset_idn_traitsn_recordsreference
Moore_2019_21255N. A. Moore, J. S. Camac, and J. W. Morgan. “Effects of drought and fire on resprouting capacity of 52 temperate Australian perennial native grasses”. New Phytologist 221.3 (2018), pp. 1424-1433. doi: 10.1111/nph.15480.
White_20202121M. White, S. Sinclair, and D. Frood. Victorian Vital Attributes Database. database. Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Victoria, 2020.
Kew_2019_1117Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Seed Information Database (SID) and Seed Bank Database. 2019. url: http://data.kew.org/sid/.
Metcalfe_2020_21717D. Metcalfe. “Unpublished data: Traits of Poaceae spp, CSIRO”. 2020.
eFLOWER_Dun_20221216L. Dun and H. Sauquet. “Unpublished: Floral traits for GAP taxa, University of New South Wales, Australia”. 2022.
Catford_20141111J. A. Catford, W. K. Morris, P. A. Vesk, C. J. Gippel, and B. J. Downes. “Species and environmental characteristics point to flow regulation and drought as drivers of riparian plant invasion”. Diversity and Distributions 20 (2014), pp. 1084-1096. doi: 10.1111/ddi.12225.
Williams_20111111R. P. Duncan, S. E. Clemants, R. T. Corlett, A. K. Hahs, M. A. McCarthy, M. J. McDonnell, M. W. Schwartz, K. Thompson, P. A. Vesk, and N. S. G. Williams. “Plant traits and extinction in urban areas: a meta-analysis of 11 cities”. Global Ecology and Biogeography 20.4 (2011), pp. 509-519. doi: 10.1111/j.1466-8238.2010.00633.x.
ABRS_202368Australian Biological Resources Study. Flora of Australia, Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra.. accessed on 14 September, 2022.. 2023. url: http://www.ausflora.org.au.
Cheal_201788D. Cheal. Growth stages and tolerable fire intervals for Victoria's native vegetation data sets. Fire and adaptive management, report no. 84. Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment Melbourne, 2010.
GrassBase_201447W. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, and K. H. &. H. Williamson. GrassBase - The online world grass flora. 2006. url: http://www.kew.org/data/grasses-db.html.
Jordan_200177G. J. Jordan. “An investigation of long-distance dispersal based on species native to both Tasmania and New Zealand”. Australian Journal of Botany 49.3 (2001), pp. 333-340. doi: 10.1071/bt00024.
RBGV_202377VicFlora. Flora of Victoria, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. accessed on 6 May, 2022.. 2023. url: https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/.
Kew_2019_616Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Germination data from the Seed Information Database (SID) and Seed Bank Database. 2019. url: http://data.kew.org/sid/.
NHNSW_2014_266Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. PLantNET: NSW flora online. 2014. url: http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/.
NHNSW_202366N. H. of New South Wales. The Plant Information Network System of The Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust Version 2.0.. accessed on 6 May, 2022.. 2023. url: https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/.
NSWFRD_201456B. Kenny, C. Orscheg, E. Tasker, M. A. Gill, and R. Bradstock. NSW Flora Fire Response Database, v2.1. database. NSW Department of Planning Industry and Environment, 2014.
Morgan_2011_155J. Morgan. “Unpublished data: Grassy woodland traits, La Trobe University”. 2011.
NHNSW_202255N. H. of New South Wales. The Plant Information Network System of The Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust Version 2.0.. accessed on 6 May, 2022.. 2022. url: https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/.
RBGV_202255VicFlora. Flora of Victoria, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. accessed on 6 May, 2022.. 2022. url: https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/.
SAH_201435J. P. Jessop and H. R. Toelken. Flora of South Australia, 4th edition, 4 vols. Electronic version curated by J. Kellermann, State Herbarium of South Australia.. Government Printer, Adelaide, 1986.
WAH_2022_255Western Australian Herbarium. Florabase—the Western Australian Flora.. accessed on 14 September, 2022.. 2022. url: https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/.
Hughes_199244L. Hughes and B. Rice. “Unpublished data: Traits data for 643 species, Macquarie University”. 1992.
Kew_2019_344Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Salt and water tolerance data from the Seed Information Database (SID) and Seed Bank Database. 2019. url: http://data.kew.org/sid/.
Kubiak_200934P. J. Kubiak. “Fire responses of bushland plants after the January 1994 wildfires in northern Sydney”. Cunninghamia 11.1 (2009), pp. 131-165.
Sjostrom_200644A. Sjöström and C. L. Gross. “Life-history characters and phylogeny are correlated with extinction risk in the Australian angiosperms”. Journal of Biogeography 33.2 (2006), pp. 271-290. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2699.2005.01393.x.
WAH_2022_144Western Australian Herbarium. Florabase—the Western Australian Flora.. accessed on 14 September, 2022.. 2022. url: https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/.
WAH_2023_234Western Australian Herbarium. Florabase—the Western Australian Flora.. accessed on 14 September, 2022.. 2023. url: https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/.
ABRS_202233Australian Biological Resources Study. Flora of Australia, Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra.. accessed on 14 September, 2022.. 2022. url: http://www.ausflora.org.au.
Carey_200333A. C. &. M. E. &. P. H. &. M. L. &. T. M. &. P. O. &. S. S. &. D. S. &. N. Webb. Wildfires in the ACT 2003: Report on Initial Impacts on Natural Ecosystems. Technical Report No. 17. Environment ACT, 2003. url: https://www.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/2539593/17-wildfires-in-the-act-report-on-initial-impacts-on-natural-ecosystems-2003.pdf.
Draper_202333J. T. Draper, S. Delean, J. G. Conran, P. Weinstein, and B. S. Simpson. “Life-history characteristics and climate correlates of dioecious plant species in central southern Australia”. Australian Journal of Botany unknown.unknown (2023), p. unknown. doi: 10.1071/BT22110.
SAH_202333S. H. of South Australia. eFlora of SA, Electronic Flora of South Australia. accessed on 6 May, 2022.. 2022. url: http://www.flora.sa.gov.au/.
Crowley_200722G. Crowley, M. Gardener, and M. Marrinan. Tropical savannas fire response database. 2007. url: [www.landmanager.org.au](www.landmanager.org.au).
Nano_201122C. E. M. Nano and P. J. Clarke. “How do drought and fire influence the patterns of resprouting in Australian deserts?”. Plant Ecology 212 (2011), pp. 2095-2110. doi: 10.1007/s11258-011-9988-x.
SAH_202222S. H. of South Australia. eFlora of SA, Electronic Flora of South Australia. accessed on 6 May, 2022.. 2022. url: http://www.flora.sa.gov.au/.
Simpson_202122K. J. Simpson, E. C. Jardine, S. Archibald, E. J. Forrestel, C. E. R. Lehmann, G. H. Thomas, and C. P. Osborne. “Resprouting grasses are associated with less frequent fire than seeders”. New Phytologist 230 (2021), pp. 832-844. doi: 10.1111/nph.17069.
WAH_2023_122Western Australian Herbarium. Florabase—the Western Australian Flora.. accessed on 14 September, 2022.. 2023. url: https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/.
Wenk_202222E. Wenk. “Unpublished data: Australian plant growth forms dataset”. 2022.
Kew_2019_511Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Seed dispersal data from the Seed Information Database (SID) and Seed Bank Database. 2019. url: http://data.kew.org/sid/.
Mokany_201511K. Mokany, J. J. Thomson, A. J. J. Lynch, G. J. Jordan, and S. Ferrier. “Linking changes in community composition and function under climate change”. Ecological Applications 25.8 (2015), pp. 2132-2141. doi: 10.1890/14-2384.1.
Munroe_201911S. E. M. Munroe, F. A. McInerney, J. Andrae, N. Welti, G. R. Guerin, E. Leitch, T. Hall, S. Szarvas, R. Atkins, S. Caddy-Retalic, and B. Sparrow. “The Photosynthetic Pathways of Plant Species Surveyed in Australia's National Terrestrial Monitoring Network”. Scientific Data 8 (2021), p. 97. doi: 10.1038/s41597-021-00877-z.
NHNSW_201411Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. PLantNET. 2014. url: http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/search/simple.htm.
Osborne_201411C. Osborne, A. Salomaa, T. Kluyver, V. Visser, E. Kellogg, O. Morrone, M. Vorontsova, W. Clayton, and D. Simpson. “A global database of C4 photosynthesis in grasses”. New Phytologist 204 (2014), pp. 441-446. doi: 10.1111/nph.12942.
Wenk_202311E. Wenk. “Unpublished data: Australian plant life history dataset, University of New South Wales, Sydney”. 2023.
Yang_202311S. Yang. “Unpublished data: Fire response traits scored from national and state floras and the taxonomic literature, University of New South Wales”. 2023.