keys to the vascular plants of east texas - Botanical Research ...

PHALARIS/POACEAE
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landscapes (Barkworth ined.). � Phalaris arundinacea L., REED CANARY GRASS, a circumpolar
species native to the n U.S., is weedy and difficult to eradicate and is considered a noxious weed
in WA and NC (Kartesz 1999). � Some species of Phalaris are potentially toxic to grazing livestock,
with toxins including alkaloids (Clay 1988; Burrows & Tyrl 2001). (Ancient Greek name
for an undetermined grass) (subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae)
REFERENCES: Anderson 1961; Baldini 1995; Tucker 1996; Hatch et al. 2004; Barkworth ined.
1. Inflorescences usually 6–15(–20) cm long; glumes 3–5.5 mm long, with lateral veins scabrous
with 9 or more stiff hairs; plants usually 60–170 cm tall; species known from the s part of East TX
________________________________________________________________________________ P. angusta
1. Inflorescences usually 1.5–7 cm long; glumes 4–10 mm long, with lateral veins glabrous OR scabrous
with 5 or fewer stiff hairs; plants usually 25–70(–100) cm tall; including species widespread
in East TX.
2. Glumes usually 6–10 mm long, the keel with a conspicuous wing to 1 mm wide near the tip;
caryopsis (= fruit) 3.9–4.2 mm long; reduced lemmas 2.5–4.5 mm long, more than 1/2 as long
as lemma of fertile floret; lemma of fertile floret 4.5–6.8 mm long; introduced species rare in
East TX _____________________________________________________________________ P. canariensis
2. Glumes 4.2–6 mm long, the keel with only a narrow wing to 0.5 mm wide near the tip; caryopsis
1.7–2.4 mm long; reduced lemmas 1.5–2.5 mm long, 1/3–1/2 as long as lemma of fertile
floret; lemma of fertile floret 3–4.7 mm long; native species widespread and common
in East TX ___________________________________________________________________ P. caroliniana
Phalaris angusta Nees ex Trin., (narrow), TIMOTHY CANARY GRASS. Culms usually 60–170 cm tall;
ligule a membrane 3–7 mm long; leaf blades 3–18 cm long, 5–12 mm wide; inflorescences elongate,
6–15(–20) cm long, ca. 8–10 mm wide; glumes ca. 3–5.5 mm long; reduced lemmas 0.5–1.5
mm long; lemma of fertile floret (2–)2.3–3.2(–3.8) mm long; caryopsis less than 1.5 mm long.
Ditches and other open moist areas; Hardin, Harris, Jefferson (BRIT), Brazos, Liberty, and Orange
(Turner et al. 2003) cos. in se part of East TX; also Gulf Prairies and Marshes and Blanco
Co. (Turner et al. 2003) in e Edwards Plateau; s 1/4 of the U.S. from SC s to FL w to CA, also OR.
Apr–May. This species has an interesting distribution, occurring in both North and South
America; there is some doubt about where it originated (Baldini 1995). The epithet angustata
has sometimes been mistakenly used for this species (e.g., Gould 1975b).
Phalaris canariensis L., (of the Canary Islands), CANARY GRASS. Culms 25–70(–100) cm tall;
ligule a membrane 2–6 mm long; leaf blades 5–15(–20+) cm long, 3–10 mm wide; inflorescences
short, thick, 1.5–3(–4) cm long, 10–20 mm wide; glumes 6–10 mm long, glabrous or sparsely hispid,
not scabrous, � pale with dark green along the lateral veins. Waste areas, probably coming
up from discarded birdseed and not long persisting; Brazos (BRIT), Bell (HPC), Bexar, Hill, Limestone,
and Nacogdoches (Turner et al. 2003) cos.; widely scattered in TX; throughout most of
Canada and the U.S. Mar–Jun. Native of s Europe and the Canary Islands. This species is important
as a source of commercial bird feed; it is the canary seed of commerce (Gould 1975b;
Mabberley 1987). I
Phalaris caroliniana Walter, (of Carolina), WILD CANARY GRASS, CAROLINA CANARY GRASS,
SOUTHERN CANARY GRASS, MAY GRASS. Culms usually 25–70(–100) cm tall; ligule a membrane 1–
5 mm long; leaf blades 6–15(–20) cm long, 3–10(–13) mm wide; inflorescences cylindrical to elliptic
or nearly ovate in outline, usually 7 cm or less long (see note below), 8–13(–20) mm wide;
glumes 4.2–6 mm long, the lateral veins glabrous or scabrous with 5 or less spicules. Moist areas,
ravines, disturbed sites, often in sandy or gravelly soils; throughout TX; s 1/2 of the U.S.
Apr–Jun. A few aberrant individuals of P. caroliniana with elongate inflorescences to 12 cm
long (e.g., Whitehouse 15711, Dallas Co., BRIT) have been observed; they are reminiscent of P.
angusta, but can be distinguished by the other characters in the key to species.