(Phalaris arundinacea)
Conservation • Weed • Wetland • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Use • Distribution • Taxonomy
Description |
||
Reed canary grass plant often appears in dense colonies that crowd out all other species. It often dominates wet areas. The blades are flat, ¼″ to ¾″ wide, and up to 20″ long. The ligule is a thin, papery membrane from just over ⅛″ to just over ⅜″ long. The margin is irregularly jagged, as if torn. The inflorescence is 2½″ to 7″ long, usually 3″ to 6″, and is borne high above the leaves. It is always evidently branched, at least near the base; the branches are short. When immature, it is compact and resembles a spike. When in full flower, it is open and green or slightly purple or reddish. Later, it turns tan to whitish in color and closes up, becoming narrow and pointed. |
||
Height |
||
24″ to 80″ |
||
Similar Species |
||
Orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata) has an inflorescence that is similar in appearance. However, the leaves are much narrower. The inflorescence is wider with a more blunt tip. Bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis) has a ring of hairs just below the nodes. |
||
Habitat |
||
Wet. Shallow marshes, river banks, roadside ditches; semi-open and open habitats. |
||
Ecology |
||
Flowering |
||
May to August |
||
Pests and Diseases |
||
|
||
Use |
||
|
||
Distribution |
||||
Sources |
||||
6/23/2022 | ||||
Nativity |
||||
Native |
||||
Occurrence |
||||
Very common |
||||
Taxonomy |
|||
Kingdom | Plantae (green algae and land plants) | ||
Subkingdom | Viridiplantae (green plants) | ||
Infrakingdom | Streptophyta (land plants and green algae) | ||
Superdivision | Embryophyta (land plants) | ||
Division | Tracheophyta (vascular plants) | ||
Subdivision | Spermatophytina (seed plants) / Angiospermae (flowering plants) | ||
Class | Liliopsida (monocots) | ||
Order |
Poales (grasses, sedges, cattails, and allies) | ||
Family |
Poaceae (grasses) | ||
No Rank | BOP clade | ||
Subfamily | Pooideae | ||
Supertribe | Poodae | ||
Tribe | Poeae | ||
Subtribe | Phalaridinae | ||
Genus |
Phalaris (canarygrasses) | ||
Synonyms |
|||
Phalaris arundinacea var. picta Phalaroides arundinacea Phalaroides arundinacea var. picta |
|||
Common Names |
|||
gardener’s garters reed canary grass reed Canarygrass ribbon grass variegated grass |
|||
Glossary
Ligule
In grasses, a membranous appendage at the junction of the leaf and the leaf sheath.
Visitor Photos |
|||||
Share your photo of this plant. |
|||||
This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption. |
|||||
Greg Watson |
|||||
![]() |
|||||
Luciearl |
|||||
This grows prolifically in my shoreline buffer. Hoping it's not invasive. |
|||||
![]() |
![]() |
||||
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
|||||
Inflorescence |
|||||
![]() |
|||||
Spikelet |
|||||
![]() |
![]() |
||||
Collar |
|||||
![]() |
|||||
Ligule |
|||||
![]() |
![]() |
||||
![]() |
|||||
Infructescence |
|||||
![]() |
![]() |
||||
![]() |
|||||
Slideshows |
||
Visitor Videos |
|||
Share your video of this plant. |
|||
This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link. |
|||
Other Videos |
|||
Matanuska River Park PalmerSWCD's channel |
|||
About
Uploaded on Jan 6, 2012 Initial Reed Canary Grass ID |
|||
Environmental Laboratory - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Environmental Laboratory USACE |
|||
About
Published on Feb 15, 2013 Phalaris arundinacea - Reed Canarygrass |
|||
Invasive Reed Canary Grass - Pennsylvania Forest Restoration Project Chuck Ray |
|||
About
Published on May 18, 2013 Penn State plant scientist Art Gover explains a project to re-establish a streamside forest in place of invasive species that have dominated the area. |
|||
Visitor Sightings |
|||||
Report a sighting of this plant. |
|||||
This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Be sure to include a location. |
|||||
Greg Watson 6/19/2022 |
Location: Apple Blossom Overlook Park |
![]() |
|||
Luciearl 11/5/2021 |
Location: Lake Shore |
![]() |
|||
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
|||||
Avon Hills Forest SNA, North Unit Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center Charles A. Lindbergh State Park Clifton E. French Regional Park Felton Prairie SNA, Bicentennial Unit Itasca Wilderness Sanctuary SNA John Peter Hoffman Spring Brook Valley WMA Lake Alexander Woods SNA, South Unit Margherita Preserve-Audubon Prairie Mary Schmidt Crawford Woods SNA Minnesota Valley NWR, Black Dog Unit Minnesota Valley NWR, Louisville Swamp Unit Minnesota Valley NWR, Rapids Lake Unit Mound Spring Prairie SNA, North Unit Northern Tallgrass Prairie NWR, Hoffman Unit Northern Tallgrass Prairie NWR, Pavia Unit Northern Tallgrass Prairie NWR, Spieker Unit Pembina Trail Preserve SNA, Pembina Trail Unit Prairie Creek WMA, Koester Prairie Unit Richard M. & Mathilde Rice Elliott SNA Robert Ney Memorial Park Reserve Sand Prairie Wildlife Management and Environmental Education Area Verlyn Marth Memorial Prairie SNA |
|||||
Created: Last Updated: © MinnesotaSeasons.com. All rights reserved. |