Phalaris minor

Retz.

Littleseed canary grass

Poaceae Edible: Seeds, Cereal 889 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

iNaturalist· cc-by-sa

Summary

Phalaris minor is a species of grass native to North Africa, Europe, and South Asia. The bunchgrass is widely naturalised elsewhere. Common names include little seed canary grass, small-seeded canary grass, small canary grass, lesser-canary grass, guli danda (Hindi), and sittee booti (Urdu).

Description

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

This description is brief — help expand it

Edible Uses

The seed can be ground into flour and used to make bread, cakes, and similar baked goods. The seeds are rather small and somewhat fiddly to process and use.

Traditional Uses

The seeds are parched and eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

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

Where It Grows

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*, France, Germany, Greece, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, India, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mauritania, Mediterranean*, 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,

Cultivation

An easily grown plant, succeeding in an ordinary garden soil. It is tolerant of most conditions, dry or wet.

Propagation

Sow seed in spring, direct in the ground where it is to grow.

Other Uses

None known

Synonyms

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