Littleseed canary grass
Phalaris minor

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

An annual grass. It grows 20-100 cm tall. The leaf blades are 3-9 mm wide. The flower panicles are dense.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Alaska, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Austria, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Britain, Canary Is., Caucasus, Central America, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Crete, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, East Africa, Egypt, Eritrea, Europe (country/location of origin), France, Germany, Greece, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, India, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mauritania, Mediterranean (country/location of origin), Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norfolk Is., North Africa, North America, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Sahara, Saudi Arabia, Sicily, Sinai, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, St Helena, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, USA, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The seeds are parched and eaten.

Edible parts

Seeds, cereal

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Alfarin

Synonyms

Phalaris ambigua Fig. & De Not.; Phalaris aquatica var. minor (Retz.) Mutel; Phalaris brevis Trin.; Phalaris capensis Thunb.; Phalaris gracilis Parl.; Phalaris nepalensis Trin.; and many others