Canary grass
Phalaris canariensis

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

An annual grass. It grows 20-100 cm tall. It forms clumps. The stems are erect but there can be a bend near the base. The leaves are green and 15 cm long. The flower panicles are dense. They are 1.5-4 cm long. The spikelets are 6-10 mm long and 2.5-3 mm wide. The glumes are equal and have an abrupt point. The seeds are straw coloured. They are 4 mm long.

There are about 15 Phalaris species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It can grow in arid places. in Argentina it grows below 600 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 6-10.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Alaska, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Azores, Balkans, Belarus, Brazil, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Canary Islands, Caucasus, Central Asia, Chile, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, East Africa, Egypt, Europe, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Libya, Mediterranean (country/location of origin), Mexico, Middle East, Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, New Zealand, North Africa, North America, Pakistan, Peru, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South America, Spain - Canary Islands, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tasmania, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

It was cultivated as a cereal in southern Europe until the nineteenth century.

Edible parts

Seeds, cereal

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Alpista, Kanarska pisana trava

Synonyms

Phalaris avicularis Salsib.;