Tambo
Phragmites vulgaris
COMMON REED
Lu

Other scientific names  Common names  
Arundo vulgaris  Bagang (Bis.)  Tangbo (C. Bis.) 
Arundo phragmities  Bugang (C. Bis.)  Tanobong (Pang., Ilk.) 
Arundo tecta  Lupi (BGik.)  Tantanubong (Ibn.) 
Arundo donax  Tabunak (Bis., P. Bis.)  Tanubong (Ilk.)
Phragmites communis  Tagisi (Ibn.)  Uba-uba (Sul.) 
Arundo madagascariensis  Tambo (Tag.)  Common reed (Engl.)
Neyraudia madagascariensis    Lu (Chin.)

Botany
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 are up to 50 cm long, 2.5 cm wide. Pannicles are 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.

Chemical constituents
Root has 5% protein; 1% fat;; 51% carbohydrate; 1.54% ash and 0.1% asparigin.

Parts utilized
Roots

Uses
Folkloric
The roots and sprouts are cooling and diuretic.
Others
In the Philippines, dust brooms are made from the pannicles.
Young shoots may be cooked and eaten like labong (bamboo sprouts).
The hardy stems are used as firewood.

Availability
Wild-crafted.