Reed canary grass

Reed canary grass
Phalaris arundinacea
Reed canarygrass
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
(unranked): Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Phalaris
Species: P. arundinacea
Binomial name
Phalaris arundinacea
L.

Reed canarygrass, Phalaris arundinacea, is a tall, perennial bunchgrass that commonly forms extensive single-species stands along the margins of lakes and streams and in wet open areas, with a wide distribution in Europe, Asia, northern Africa and North America.

Contents

Description

The stems can reach 2.5 m in height. The leaf blades are blue-green when fresh and straw-colored when dry. The flowers are borne on the stem high above the leaves and are pinkish at full bloom.

Uses

A number of cultivars of P. arundinacea have been selected for use as ornamental plants, including variegated (striped) cultivars – sometimes called ribbon grass – such as 'Dwarfs Garters' and 'Strawberries and Cream'. The latter gets its name from the large white stripes and pinkish color that appears on the leaves at varying times. When grown, although drought-tolerant, it likes abundant water and can even be grown as an aquatic plant.

Reed canarygrass grows well on poor soils and contaminated industrial sites, and researchers at Teesside University's Contaminated Land & Water Centre have suggested it as the ideal candidate for phytoremediation in improving soil quality and biodiversity at brownfield sites.

The grass can also easily be turned into bricks or pellets for burning in biomass power stations.[1] Furthermore it provides fibers which find use in pulp and papermaking processes.

Reed canarygrass is also planted as a hay crop or for forage.

Invasiveness

In many places, reed canarygrass is an invasive species in wetlands, particularly in disturbed areas. When reed canary grass invades a wetland, it suppresses native vegetation and reduces diversity. The grass propagates by seed and rhizome, and once established, is difficult to eradicate.[2]

Chemical properties

Some Phalaris species contain gramine, which can cause brain damage, other organ damage, central nervous system damage and death in sheep.[3]

Leaves of P. arundinacea contain DMT, 5-MeO-DMT and related compounds.[4] Levels of beta-Carbolines have also been reported.[5]

References

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Reed canary grass — Reed Reed, n. [AS. hre[ o]d; akin to D. riet, G. riet, ried, OHG. kriot, riot.] 1. (Bot.) A name given to many tall and coarse grasses or grasslike plants, and their slender, often jointed, stems, such as the various kinds of bamboo, and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • reed Canary-grass — kanarinis strypainis statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Miglinių šeimos grūdinis, maistinis, pašarinis, vaistinis augalas (Phalaris canariensis), paplitęs šiaurės Afrikoje. atitikmenys: lot. Phalaris canariensis angl. Canary grass; Canary… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • reed Canary grass — nendrinis dryžutis statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Miglinių šeimos dekoratyvinis, pašarinis augalas (Phalaroides arundinacea), paplitęs Europoje, Azijoje, šiaurės Afrikoje ir Šiaurės Amerikoje. atitikmenys: lot. Phalaroides arundinacea angl …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • reed canary grass — nendrinis dryžutis statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Miglinių šeimos dekoratyvinis, pašarinis augalas (Phalaroides arundinacea), paplitęs Europoje, Azijoje, šiaurės Afrikoje ir Šiaurės Amerikoje. atitikmenys: lot. Phalaroides arundinacea angl …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • reed canary grass — noun perennial grass of marshy meadows and ditches having broad leaves; Europe and North America • Syn: ↑gardener s garters, ↑lady s laces, ↑ribbon grass, ↑Phalaris arundinacea • Hypernyms: ↑grass • Member Holonyms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • reed canary grass. — See under canary grass. [1750 60] * * * …   Universalium

  • reed canary grass. — See under canary grass. [1750 60] …   Useful english dictionary

  • canary grass — or reed canary grass n. an annual European grass (Phalaris canariensis) with thimble shaped heads of seeds (canary seed) used as food for cage birds …   English World dictionary

  • Canary grass — Taxobox name = Canary grass image width = 250px regnum = Plantae divisio = Magnoliophyta classis = Magnoliopsida ordo = Poales familia = Poaceae genus = Phalaris species = P. canariensis binomial = Phalaris canariensis binomial authority =… …   Wikipedia

  • Canary grass — kanarinis strypainis statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Miglinių šeimos grūdinis, maistinis, pašarinis, vaistinis augalas (Phalaris canariensis), paplitęs šiaurės Afrikoje. atitikmenys: lot. Phalaris canariensis angl. Canary grass; Canary… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”