Research done by Ashland University science professors Dr. Jeffrey Weidenhamer, Dr. Robert Bergosh, Dr. Mason Posner and their students is challenging the prevailing hypothesis for the success of an important wetland invader.
The common reed, Phragmites australis, is a serious invasive weed in North American wetlands and one of the most serious invasive plants in the world. According to recent published reports, the roots of this plant release a toxic chemical, gallic acid, which is responsible for its success as an invader.