Phragmites - An Invasive Species of Grass

      Phragmites is an invasive species of grass that can grow up to 18 feet tall. It was introduced to North America from the ballast of ships by English colonists. While phragmites can be bad for wildlife and other plant species, it prevents erosion in marsh lands where they exist because it holds and builds soil. “Over the last three decades, the invasive plant has multiplied perhaps 10 fold to cover roughly 100,000 acres or about 10 percent of Maryland marshes, according to an estimate by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources” (Pelton 2). Phragmites have also spread across other states such as Virginia and Pennsylvania.

      It is known as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by scientists because of its good and bad qualities. Though phragmites protect shorelines, scientists would prefer the prevalence of native grasses in the marshes. The reason is that phragmites are a poor habitat for fish, birds, and animals. Also, a toxin is emitted from its roots that kills and crowds out other grasses that are the habitat for wildfowl and other animals. “ 

 

     "The Maryland Department of Natural Resources, with help from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, spends about $30,000 a year spraying an herbicide (glyphosate, the active ingredient in Round Up) from helicopters onto selected stands of phragmites that are monopolizing the landscape in important wildlife areas" (Pelton 2).  Glyphosate is also used by other states to control phragmites.  The problem with using glyphosate is that planes are used to spray the phragmites and there is a danger that the chemical could drift to other areas and wipe out endangered plants.  Also, spraying glyphosate is making farming more difficult because it is creating weeds that are herbicide-resistant.

 

     The prevalence of phragmites in Virginia has sufficiently been controlled through programs to prevent and reduce their spread. Though phragmites are good at preventing erosion, there are native grasses that can do as good a job. Native grasses that have been displaced by phragmites are better at providing habitat for animals and birds that live in the marshes. The control of phramites is also good for the environment in that less glyphosate will be sprayed and thus other grasses will not be killed and less farmers will have to deal with herbicide-resistant weeds.

                                                         
                                                            Works Cited

Pelton, Tom. The Jekyll and Hyde of the Marsh. Chesapeake Bay Foundation, 27

      September 2012. Web. 3 October 2012.