The Common Reed
Phragmites australis is amongst the longest-living organisms. A population clone can be thousands of years old. Although it flowers and apparently sets seeds in a most profuse manner, the seed vitality is very low and most colonies rely on vegetative means of reproduction and dispersal.
Apart from the subterranean robust rhizomes, the Reed has a literal fast-running surprise in store: the stolons or runners which are above-ground and extend until the growing point(s) make contact with a suitable substrate. Which in the depicted situation below, means the runner already had grown 12 (! twelve) meters across a solid rock face and still hadn't reached the sea
However, Nature will persist. Eventually it will get there.
Shot with my Z fc and the old W-Nikkor 3.5cm f/1.8 rangefinder lens.
