Phalaris canariensis

Canary grass

Poaceae Edible: Seeds, Cereal 1,306 iNaturalist observations

fodder

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Summary

Annual grass growing to 1m tall. Hardy to UK zone 6. Foliage May to October; flowering July to September. Hermaphrodite, wind-pollinated. Tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with mildly acid to mildly alkaline pH. Requires full sun and prefers moist or wet soil.

Description

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.

Edible Uses

The seeds can be cooked and used as a cereal — though small, they work well for making porridge, or can be ground into flour for cakes and puddings. While widely grown as birdseed, the grain is perfectly suitable for human use. Young leaves can also be cooked and eaten.

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

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.

Where It Grows

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*, 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,

Cultivation

An easily grown plant, succeeding in an ordinary garden soil. It is tolerant of most conditions, dry or wet. Cultivated for its seed which is commonly used in wild bird food mixes.

Propagation

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

Other Uses

None known

Other Information

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

Notes

There are about 15 Phalaris species.

Synonyms

Phalaris avicularis Salsib.

Also Known As

Alpista, Kanarska pisana trava

References (20)

Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 443
Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1022
Curtis, W.M., & Morris, D.I., 1994, The Student's Flora of Tasmania. Part 4B St David's Park Publishing, Tasmania, p 251
Flora of Australia Volume 49, Oceanic Islands 1, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra. (1994) p 460
Flora of Pakistan. www.eFloras.org

Show all 20 references

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Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 7
Kiple, K.F. & Ornelas, K.C., (eds), 2000, The Cambridge World History of Food. CUP p 119
Lazarides, M. & Hince, B., 1993, Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia, CSIRO. p 187
Paczkowska, G. & Chapman, A.R., 2000, The Western Australian Flora. A Descriptive Catalogue. Western Australian Herbarium. p 113
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (1999). Survey of Economic Plants for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (SEPASAL) database. Published on the Internet; http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/ceb/sepasal/internet [Accessed 3rd June 2011]
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Zeven, A. C. & de West, J. M. J., 1982, Dictionary of cultivated plants and their regions of diversity. Wageningen. p 111