reed canary grass

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• reed canarygrass
• Reed Canary-Grass
• gardener's-garters
• ribbon grass
• variegated grass
• Gardener's Garters
• Variegated Ribbon Grass
• Zebra Grass

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Baldingera arundinacea
• Baldingera arundinacea var. picta
• Calamagrostis colorata
• Phalaroides picta
• Phalaroides arundinacea
• Phalaroides arundinacea convar. picta
• Phalaridantha arundinacea
• Phalaris picta
• Phalaroides hispanica
• Phalaroides japonica
• Phalaris arundinacea var. coarctata
• Phalaris arundinacea f. variegata
• Baldingera arundinacea var. variegata
• Phalaroides caesia
• Phalaroides arundinacea subsp. caesia
• Typhoides arundinacea f. umbrosa
• Typhoides arundinacea f. schwarzii
• Calamagrostis colorata var. variegata
• Baldingera arundinacea var. alba
• Phalaris tuberinacea
• Typhoides arundinacea
• Phalaris arundinacea var. vivipara
• Phalaridantha arundinacea var. variegata
• Phalaroides arundinacea var. kuzenevae
• Typhoides arundinacea var. japonica
• Phalaroides arundinacea subsp. japonica
• Phalaroides arundinacea subsp. oehleri
• Phalaroides arundinacea var. picta
• Digraphis arundinacea
• Digraphis arundinacea var. picta
• Phalaris hispanica
• Phalaris japonica
• Phalaris caesia
• Baldingera colorata
• Phalaris arundinacea f. luteopicta
• Phalaris arundinacea f. minor
• Phalaris arundinacea var. glauca
• Phalaris arundinacea f. pallens
• Digraphis arundinacea f. coarctata
• Phalaris arundinacea f. pallida
• Phalaris arundinacea f. picta
• Phalaris arundinacea f. ramifera
• Phalaris arundinacea var. ramosa
• Phalaris arundinacea f. thyrsoidea
• Phalaris arundinacea subsp. hispanica
• Phalaris arundinacea subsp. oehleri
• Phalaris arundinacea subsp. picta
• Phalaris arundinacea var. picta
• Phalaris arundinacea var. japonica
• Phalaris arundinacea var. leioclada
• Phalaris arundinacea var. thyrsoidea
• Phalaris arundinacea var. variegata
• Phalaris americana var. picta
• Phalaris monspeliensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Poales and family Poaceae, it is further classified under the genus Phalaris. This taxonomic hierarchy defines its biological position as a member of the grass family.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found across several regions within Northern Europe. Its distribution includes the coastal and inland areas of Denmark and Finland. It is also documented growing in the Faroe Islands, which are known as Føroyar. Furthermore, the species can be found throughout the landscapes of Great Britain. Finally, its geographical reach extends to the unique terrain of Iceland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Phalaris arundinacea is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environmental gradients, spanning a vast elevational range from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to high-altitude environments reaching 4000 m AMSL. This broad altitudinal tolerance allows the species to colonize various landscapes, though it frequently establishes itself within "Área Antrópica" (anthropic areas), indicating a strong capacity to thrive in habitats modified or influenced by human activity. Such ecological plasticity enables the plant to persist in both low-lying disturbed sites and much more rigorous, high-elevation ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

4000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Phalaris arundinacea is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Functioning primarily as a hemicryptophyte, it protects its perennuating buds at or just below the soil surface during unfavorable conditions. Its growth strategy is further defined by its life form as a geophyte, utilizing underground structures to ensure survival and regrowth. Additionally, the plant maintains an evergreen nature, retaining its foliage throughout much of the year to facilitate continuous photosynthetic activity.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Phalaris arundinacea is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody, graminoid herb. This plant is strictly terrestrial in its habitat and does not function as an epiphyte or a parasite, maintaining an independent biological existence. As a self-supporting organism, it does not exhibit climbing habits such as vines or lianas. In terms of stature, the plant displays significant variability in size, with individual heights ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 2 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 1.42 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

graminoid

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

1.41666666666667 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Phalaris arundinacea is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's vegetative structure features elongated foliage with a maximum leaf length of 40 cm and a consistent leaf width that maintains a mean and maximum value of 2 cm. On average, the leaves possess a surface area of 33.66 cm², contributing to a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 244.18 cm²/g, a metric that reflects its leaf mass per unit area and its strategy for light interception and resource allocation. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy and does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on traditional soil nutrient uptake to support its growth and development.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

40 cm

Leaf size mean:

33.66 cm²

Leaf width mean:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

244.18 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Phalaris arundaenacea is characterized by a primarily sexual process, as asexual reproduction is noted to be absent. The plant features bisexual flowers, and its pollination syndrome is classified as abiotic, specifically relying on wind for the transfer of pollen. The flowering period typically occurs during the summer months, beginning in June and concluding in July. Following successful pollination, the plant produces seeds with a mean length of 2 mm (ranging from a minimum of 2 mm to a maximum of 2 mm) and a mean width of 1 mm (with minimum and maximum values both remaining at 1 mm). These seeds are quite light, possessing a mean mass of approximately 0.000715 g, with individual seed masses varying between a minimum of 0.00031 g and a maximum of 0.0011 g. Regarding the spread of the species, Phalaris arundaenacea utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning the seeds are dispersed by the wind. Furthermore, the plant does not exhibit self-fertilization, necessitating cross-pollination to complete its reproductive cycle.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

2 mm

Seed mass max:

0.0011 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000714878666666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.00031 g

Seed width mean:

1 mm

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Phalaris arundinacea has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Al, CO, FE, MN, MO.

Al

1. International journal of phytoremediation

CO

1. International journal of phytoremediation

FE

1. International journal of phytoremediation

MN

1. International journal of phytoremediation

MO

1. International journal of phytoremediation