Sand Reed Grass
(Calamovilfa longifolia var. magna)

This is a perennial grass from a creeping rhizome (acts as a stabilizer in sandy soils) which usually attains a height at 2 meters. The plant has a pubescent sheath that overlaps only at the base. The stem is 6 – 18 decimeters high and the elongated leaves are 3-8 millimeters wide at the base and taper to a narrow point.

Sand reed bears a single-flowered spikelets and can be seen in bloom from July to September.
DNR Photo

This plant is characteristics of sand dunes and areas near lakes. In the zone closest to the lake, sand reed can be seen growing with marram grass, thickspiked wheatgrass, dune goldenrod and dune thistle. Just beyond this point it typically dominates the plant community where one of the most characteristic plant communities of sand dunes is located. It becomes part of a woody community on newer sand dunes.

The range of this species is quite limited as it is found only along the Lake Huron and Lake Michigan shorelines of the Ontario, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin and two sites along Lake Superior in Michigan. Wisconsin is the only state which has a protected status for sand reed. There is no federally protected status.

For more information, see another page about sand reed or ask the Whitefish Dunes naturalist, (920) 823-2400.