Botany
Tambo is a coarse, erect grass growing to a height of 1.5 to 3.5 meters. Stems are cylindrical and hollow, about 1 cm in diameter. Leaves areflat and linear, up to 50 cm long, 2.5 cm wide. Pannicles arelarge, terminal, plume-like, nodding, 30-50 cm long, brownish, dense with many flowers.

Distribution
Widely distributed in the Philippines at low and medium altitudes.
Abundant in swamps and muddy streams/
Cultivated for commercial use.

Constituents
- Root has 5% protein; 1% fat;; 51% carbohydrate; 1.54% ash and 0.1% asparigin.
- Yields triterpenes, vitamins A and B, ascorbic acid.
- Secretes a phytotoxin, gallic acid, which on ultraviolet light photo-degradation, causes higher mortality of susceptible seedlings, that gives it a competitive edge in their habitats.

Properties
Considered diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, stomachic, sudorific.

Parts utilized
Roots, leaves

Uses
Nutrition
Young shoots may be eaten raw or cooked and eaten like labong (bamboo sprouts).
Unfolded leaves used as potherb.
In Japan, grounded dry young leaves, mixed with cereal flour in making dumplings.
Folkloric
- The roots and sprouts are cooling and diuretic.
- In China, tender sprouts and rhizomes used medicinally. Reed rhizome used for cancer.
- Reported folk medicine for condylomata, indurated breast, breast cancer, leukemia.
- Used for abscesses, arthritis, bronchits, cough, cholera, gout fever, hiccups, rheumatism. source
- Ash of leaves used for foul sores.
- Decoction of flowers used for cholera and food poisoning.
- Mixed with gypsum for halitosis and toothache.
Others
In the Philippines, dust brooms are made from the pannicles.
The hardy stems are used as firewood.
Where bamboo is not available, used for roofing ribs.
Culms used for pen handles.
Makes first-class paper, but difficult to bleach.
Mouth pieces for musical instruments (clarinets, etc.)

Studies
• Pharmacologic Study: Study of aerial parts of P. communis Trin. was done concerning free amino acids, fatty acids, sterols, tocopherols and polyphenols. Isolated polyphenols were investigated for antibacteriophage properties.
• Phytotoxin / Gallic Acid: - Study on plant invasiveness behavior showed P. australis (common reed) secretes a phytotoxin, gallic acid, which on ultraviolet light photo-degradation, causes higher mortality of susceptible seedlings, that gives it a competitive edge in their habitats.

Availability
Wild-crafted.