Reed canary grass
(Phalaris arundinacea)
Conservation • Weed • Wetland • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Use • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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| IUCN Red List | LC - Least Concern |
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| NatureServe | N5 - Secure SNA - Not applicable |
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| Minnesota | not listed |
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Weed Status |
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Reed canary grass is listed as an invasive terrestrial plant by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. However, it is not currently regulated in Minnesota. |
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Wetland Indicator Status |
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| Great Plains | FACW - Facultative wetland |
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| Midwest | FACW - Facultative wetland |
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| Northcentral & Northeast | FACW - Facultative wetland |
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Description |
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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. |
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Height |
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24″ to 80″ |
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Similar Species |
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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. |
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Habitat |
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Wet. Shallow marshes, river banks, roadside ditches; semi-open and open habitats. |
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Ecology |
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Flowering |
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May to August |
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Pests and Diseases |
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Use |
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Distribution |
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Sources |
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| 6/23/2022 | ||||
Nativity |
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Native |
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Occurrence |
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Very common |
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Taxonomy |
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| Kingdom | Plantae (Plants) | ||
| Subkingdom | Pteridobiotina | ||
| Phylum | Tracheophyta (Vascular 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 |
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Arundo colorata Arundo riparia Baldingera arundinacea Baldingera arundinacea ssp. colorata Baldingera arundinacea ssp. rotgesii Baldingera arundinacea ssp. umbrosa Baldingera arundinacea ssp. variegata Baldingera arundinacea var. alba Baldingera arundinacea var. picta Baldingera arundinacea var. rotgesii Baldingera arundinacea var. variegata Baldingera colorata Calamagrostis colorata Calamagrostis colorata var. variegata Calamagrostis variegata Digraphis americana Digraphis arundinacea Digraphis arundinacea var. picta Endallex arundinacea Endallex arundinaceae Phalaridantha arundinacea Phalaridantha arundinacea var. variegata Phalaris americana ssp. picta Phalaris americana var. picta Phalaris arundinacea ssp. colorata Phalaris arundinacea ssp. genuina Phalaris arundinacea ssp. hispanica Phalaris arundinacea ssp. japonica Phalaris arundinacea ssp. leioclada Phalaris arundinacea ssp. luteopicta Phalaris arundinacea ssp. minor Phalaris arundinacea ssp. oehleri Phalaris arundinacea ssp. pallens Phalaris arundinacea ssp. pallida Phalaris arundinacea ssp. picta Phalaris arundinacea ssp. ramifera Phalaris arundinacea ssp. ramosa Phalaris arundinacea ssp. rotgesii Phalaris arundinacea ssp. thyrsoidea Phalaris arundinacea ssp. typica Phalaris arundinacea ssp. variegata Phalaris arundinacea var. coarctata Phalaris arundinacea var. colorata Phalaris arundinacea var. genuina Phalaris arundinacea var. glauca Phalaris arundinacea var. japonica Phalaris arundinacea var. latifolia Phalaris arundinacea var. leioclada Phalaris arundinacea var. picta Phalaris arundinacea var. ramosa Phalaris arundinacea var. rotgesii Phalaris arundinacea var. thyrsoidea Phalaris arundinacea var. variegata Phalaris arundinacea var. vivipara Phalaris caesia Phalaris colorata Phalaris hispanica Phalaris japonica Phalaris monspeliensis Phalaris picta Phalaris rotgesii Phalaris tuberinacea Phalaroides arundinacea Phalaroides arundinacea ssp. caesia Phalaroides arundinacea ssp. japonica Phalaroides arundinacea ssp. oehleri Phalaroides arundinacea ssp. picta Phalaroides arundinacea ssp. rotgesii Phalaroides arundinacea var. kuzenevae Phalaroides arundinacea var. picta Phalaroides caesia Phalaroides hispanica Phalaroides japonica Phalaroides picta Phalaroides rotgesii Typhoides arundinacea Typhoides arundinacea ssp. colorata Typhoides arundinacea ssp. japonica Typhoides arundinacea ssp. rotgesii Typhoides arundinacea ssp. schwarzii Typhoides arundinacea ssp. umbrosa Typhoides arundinacea var. japonica Typhoides arundinacea var. rotgesii |
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Common Names |
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gardener’s garters reed canary grass reed Canarygrass ribbon grass variegated grass |
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Glossary
Ligule
In grasses, a membranous appendage at the junction of the leaf and the leaf sheath.
Visitor Photos |
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Greg Watson |
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Luciearl |
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This grows prolifically in my shoreline buffer. Hoping it's not invasive. |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Inflorescence |
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Spikelet |
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Collar |
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Ligule |
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Infructescence |
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Slideshows |
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Visitor Videos |
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Other Videos |
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| Matanuska River Park PalmerSWCD's channel |
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About
Uploaded on Jan 6, 2012 Initial Reed Canary Grass ID |
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| Environmental Laboratory - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Environmental Laboratory USACE |
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About
Published on Feb 15, 2013 Phalaris arundinacea - Reed Canarygrass |
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| Invasive Reed Canary Grass - Pennsylvania Forest Restoration Project Chuck Ray |
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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. |
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Created: 7/24/2005 | Last Updated: 6/23/2023 © MinnesotaSeasons.com. All rights reserved. |