Phalaris lemmonii
Phalaris aquatica
Lemmon's Canary grass
bulbous Canary-grass, Harding grass
(7)25-150 cm.
60-200 cm, often swollen at the base, rooting at the lower nodes.
(2)3-20 cm long, 0.6-1.5 cm wide, cylindrical, evidently branched below;
branches to 2 cm, spikelets borne singly, not clustered.
1.5-15 cm long, 1-2.5 cm wide, usually cylindric, sometimes ovoid, occasionally lobed at the base, spikelets borne singly, not clustered;
branches not evident.
homogamous, with (2)3 florets, terminal floret bisexual;
disarticulation above the glumes, beneath the sterile florets.
homogamous, with 2-3(5) florets, usually with 1 bisexual floret, occasionally with 2, occasionally the terminal floret viviparous;
disarticulation above the glumes, beneath the sterile florets.
4.5-6.7 mm long, 0.9-1.1 mm wide, acuminate, keels not or only slightly winged, wings to 0.2 mm wide, keels, lateral veins, and adjacent surfaces scabrous;
sterile florets (1)2, 1-1.6 mm, densely appressed-hairy;
bisexual florets 2.7-5.1 mm long, 1.2-1.6 mm wide, shiny, stramineous to gray-brown, mostly hairy with spreading hairs, apices glabrous, strongly acuminate to beaked;
anthers 0.7-2 mm.
4.4-7.5 mm long, 1.2-1.5 mm wide, keels winged distally, wings 0.2-0.4 mm wide, usually entire, lateral veins conspicuous, smooth;
sterile florets usually 1, hairy, if 2, lowest floret to 0.7 mm, upper or only sterile floret 1-3 mm;
bisexual florets 3.1-4.6 mm long, 1.2-1.5 mm wide, hairy, stramineous, acute;
anthers 3-3.6 mm.
1.5-8 mm, acute;
blades to 14 cm long, 1-8 mm wide, smooth, shiny, sometimes revolute.
2-12 mm, truncate, lacerate;
blades 5-15(20) cm long, 0.5-10 mm wide.
= 14.
= 28.
Phalaris lemmonii
Phalaris aquatica
Phalaris lemmonii is native to California, but it has also been found in Victoria, Australia. It grows in moist areas, and appears to hybridize with both P. caroliniana and P. angusta (Baldini 1995). The strongly beaked tips of the bisexual florets are a useful distinguishing feature.
Beecher Crampton noted on one unusually small specimen (UTC 230918) that it was the vernal pool ecotype of the species. He did not publish his observations.
Anderson (1961) and Baldini (1995) distinguished Phalaris lemmonii from P. platensis Henrard ex Wacht., a narrowly distributed South American taxon, arguing that it was slightly longer in the length of its ligules, glumes, florets, and anthers, but many California specimens fall within the range given for P. platensis rather than that for P. lemmonii. Phalaris lemmonii is the older name so, if further research shows that the two species should be combined, P. lemmonii will remain as the correct name for plants from the Flora region.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
A native of the Mediterranean region, Phalaris aquatica now grows in many parts of the world, frequently having been introduced because of its forage value. Even where it is native, it usually grows in disturbed areas, often those subject to seasonal flooding. It is now established in western North America, being most common along the coast, and as an invasive in disturbed wet prairies with clay soils.
Phalaris aquatica can hybridize with other species of Phalaris. The stabilized polyploid hybrid with P. minor, P. xdaviesii S.T. Blake, is cultivated as a forage grass in Australia, Africa, and South America. The hybrid with P. arundinacea, P. xmonspeliensis Daveau, is also a good forage grass. The name 'Toowoomba Canary-grass' has been applied to P. xmonspeliensis in North America, but Ross (1989) stated that it should be applied to P. aquatica. Using 'Bulbous Canarygrass' as the English-language name for P. aquatica avoids confusion, at least in the Flora region. In addition, it is descriptive, and is the name used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for P. aquatica.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
CA
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
OR
Flora NW
PNW Herbaria
