uses for Common Reed

[squatch]

I'm hoping that other forum members can tell me uses for a plant that is majorly prevalent in my area. The plant is 6 to 9 feet tall with a frothy tip. It is arrow straight (I believe that may be a use) and looks much like bulrush but the frond or tip or whatever is much bigger, frothier, like a large feather. This plant looks like pictures I have seen on various sites of Common Reed. It grows in swampy, wet areas ALL OVER the place here in NY, often near or next to Cattail. I am wondering if it has food value (starchy rootstalks?), cordage value, arrow or whatever. Thanks in advance.

John

 

[Leef]

The reed can be used for lots of tools. The SE Indians used them for arrows more than anything else. I like them myself if I'm going to shoot at fish or birds. The large heavy ones make adequate fish and frog spears. I've even seen small blowguns made from reeds although rivercane is what the Catabwa and Cherokee used. The hollow tubes can be used to store anything from water to salt and pepper. I like to use the hollow sections like a straw to blow the coals during scrape and burn, fire starting, and of course drinking.

Since we are on bladeforums I will tell you my favorite trick with them. Split the reed, don't cut it, from one section to the top of the other. Then fire harden the edge and it will make a great knife for cutting flesh and cleaning fish. I first saw this at Town Creek Indian Mound years ago, tried it, and have been using it ever since. Last week I saw a program on the discovery channel about the headhunters in Borneo and guess what they completely butchered a pig with. They used some type of local reed to get the pig ready to roast. I don't have much personal experience using reeds for food.

 

[Michael Bennett]

The reed you are referring to may be of the phragmites species. If it is, it was a species introduced by early European colonists as a food source. The bushy tips produce a seed that can be ground into a flour.

Locally (Massachusetts) it's also called Elephant Grass or false bamboo.

Mike

 

[HM]

Squatch,

Reeds can be used:
1) As food (Peterson's Edible Wild plants): young stems dried, pounded, moisted and roasted; seeds grounded into flour; rootstocks crushed and washed to get flour.

2) As arrowstems, atlatl stems.

3) Leaves woven into basket, sandal, sleeping pad, windbreak wall.

4) Stem for wickiup shelter, wall panels, insulator, bedding.

6) Dry leaves as tinder. whole plan to construct easy to ignite signal fire.

7) Stem to construct box trap, fish trap.

8) Stem floats and might be OK to use as improvised raft to cross water.

9) Stem as straw to get water out from small holes. Good indicator plant of water close.

That is I could find out right now. Hope it helps,

HM