Why is this happening to my reed shoots I collected?

[Turk]

I collected them 2 days ago and they are getting indentions running lengthwise. This is my first time trying reed arrows and post on this site so Im not sure if Im in the right section. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[KenH]

They might be drying too fast.  Were these green stems, or last year's dried while standing stems?

[Pat B]

They were too immature to harvest. That why I always stress to collect only second year growth or older.
 Cane grows to it's ultimate height the first year. The second year it matures and fills out. After the second growing season is the time to harvest cane.
 I'm assuming what you have is cane.

[Turk]

They were green stems and how do you tell which growth year the cane is on?

[Pat B]

With the native canes(hill, switch, river) they have a paper-like sheath protecting the nodes the first year. After the second growing season the sheath starts to deteriorate and by the 3rd growing season those sheathes are totally gone. It is after the second growing season that you want to harvest the culms(canes)
 What type of reed is it you are getting?

[Turk]

Common reed. Phragmites Australis

[Pat B]

That's an perennial. It dies back in the winter and re-sprouts each year. It might be too early in the year to harvest it. I'd wait until late in the fall but before the first frost. Also, let it dry sloooow.
 You should have switch cane in LA. It grows to about 6' to 7' tall and perfect diameter for arrows.

[BMorv]

I'm in Southeast Louisiana and we do have switch cane here.  We just call it bamboo.  I walk by that stuff all of the time and I can't believe I never thought to make arrows out of it.  
Pat, do you have a link to a discussion on arrow making from canes?  Seems like you have done it a time or two.

[Pat B]

We have a few discussions and build alongs on PA.
A website is too technical for me so I rely on TG and PA.
 I can answer questions for you if you have any. We have 3 native canes(bamboos) in the US, Hill cane(Arundaneria appalachiana), switch cane(A. tecta) and river cane (A. gigantia). Of the 3, hill cane makes the best arrows, switch cane which is similar to hill cane is second and river cane is 3rd. All 3 make good arrows, just some better than the others.
 On PA in the build alongs a guy that goes by the name "Jackcrafty" makes Native American bows and arrows and I think he has one on using phragmites.
Patrick(Jackcrafty) is also an incredible flint knapper and has a series with knapping Q&As in every PA Magazine.

[BMorv]

Thanks Pat.  I'll check out Jackcrafty's build alongs.  I just didn't want to highjack Turk's topic with all of my newfound questions on arrow building with cane.

[Roy from Pa]

Cane arrows are fun to make and shoot great.


 

[Pat B]

I guess those are OK, Roy.    

[Roy from Pa]

LOL, thanks Pat. Those may be the cane shafts you sent me.

[Pat B]

Hill cane is the best!