Common reed

The Marsh Arabs build floating islands and monumental mudhif guesthouses from reeds – just as the Sumerians did 5,000 years ago.

The common reed is a tall grass growing 4–5 m high, with stiff, hollow stems and large, feathery panicles. It spreads by long rhizomes, forming dense, extensive reed beds in shallow water. It purifies water and provides shelter for birds and fish. Its stems are light, strong and flexible, which is why they have been used as a building material for thousands of years.

Significance in the country

The reed beds of the Mesopotamian Marshes (Al-Ahwar), inscribed on the UNESCO list, are the basis of life for the Marsh Arabs, or Ma’dan. From bundles of reeds they build the arches of mudhif houses, mats and boats, and the young shoots are fodder for water buffalo.

Where it grows

Vast reed beds cover the Mesopotamian Marshes in the south of the country: the Hawizeh Marshes (Maysan), the Central Marshes and the Hammar Marshes (Dhi Qar and Basra).

More: Wikipedia (en) Wikipedia (pl)