Phragmites karka (Retz.) Trin. ex Steud.

Steudel, E.G. von (1841), Nomenclator Botanicus : 324 (1841).

Robust perennial from an extensive creeping rhizome. Culms very stout, often woody, reed-like, 4-6 m tall and 1.5-2.5 cm in diam.

Leaves cauline; Leaf-blades erect-ascending, disarticulating from the sheaths, 20-80 x 1-4cm, surface scaberulous, apex hardened. Leaf-sheaths loose, abaxial surface scabrous. Ligule a 0.5-1 mm long fringed membrane.

Panicle 30-50 × 10-20 cm; branches of lowermost whorl bare of spikelets toward base, ca. glabrous at insertion. Spikelets 10-12 mm long with 4-6; glumes lanceolate-elliptic, obtuse to acuminate, lower glume up to ½ the length of lowest lemma, 2.5-4 mm long, upper glume 3.5-5 mm; lowest lemma narrowly elliptic, 7-12 mm long; floret callus with hairs 4-8 mm long; bisexual lemmas linear-lanceolate, 8.5-10 mm long and with an attenuate apex.

Caryopsis 1-1.1 mm long; with adherent pericarp. Hilum elliptic.

Features not available.

Occurs in WA, NT, CYP, NEQ and CEQ. A lowland species with an altitudinal range from near sea level to 150 m. Grows in sunny areas in and on the banks of streams, lakes and billabongs in rainforest, vineforest, various types of woodland and wooded grassland. Also from Africa, western Asia, Arabia, China, eastern Asia, India, Indo-China, Malesia, New Guinea and the Pacific Islands.

The name Phragmites karka is used in Queensland.

Arundo karka Retz., Observationes Botanicae (Retzius) 4: 21(1786).  Phragmites vallatoria (Pluk. ex L.) Veldkamp, Blumea 37(1): 233 (1992).