Reed is a common name for many kinds of tall, slender grass plants. The word may also refer to the stems of these plants, which are often jointed in many places. The stems may be as slender and fragile as straw, or as thick and sturdy as bamboo. The pith that fills the center of the reed can usually be removed, leaving a hollow, jointed tube. The hollow stems of the reed have been used to make musical instruments.
The reed musical instruments have a mouthpiece containing a vibrating strip that was once made only of reed. Plastic, wood, glass, and metal are now used to make the “reed.” Farmers in Europe thatch their houses with other types of reeds.
Reeds grow in almost all countries of the temperate and warm regions. They are found in a variety of habitats, from low upland meadows to wet lowlands and shallow lakes and ponds. Straw is sometimes called reed in the United Kingdom. The American Indians often made the roots, young leaves, and stems of various kinds of reeds a part of their diet.
