Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois

Phalaris arundinacea
Reed canary grass
Taxonomy

Synonyms:

Subspecific taxa:

Classification:

Other taxonomic & nomenclature sources: USDA Plants;  ITIS;  The Plant List;  IPNI

Images

   
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Species Distribution
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More about map & occurrence records

County Map Legend
Absent:
Not known from county
Medium confidence:
Medium or unknown confidence;
often old records or unverifiable observations
Medium-high confidence:
Often observations by expert botanists
High confidence:
Often vouchered herbarium records
Planted / introduced:
Native species introduced outside historic range,
or only in planted locations within county (e.g., restorations)
Historic / extirpated:
Only historic records for the species; likely extirpated
(Note that this category is not yet functional)

North American distribution maps for this species: FLNA;  USDA Plants;  BONAP;  BISON

Collections, Observations & Flowering by Month [?]

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F
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M
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A
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M
0
J
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J
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A
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S
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O
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N
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D
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Collections & Observations by Decade [?]

Species Status

Status/Listing: No Information

Notes:

Origin: Europe

Species Description

General: Monocot, perennial

Roots: adventitious, rhizomes

Shoots: alternate leaf arrangment; simple leaf type; entire leaf margin; Parallel leaf venation; awl-shaped leaf shape

Inflorescence: panicle

Flowers: perfect, other; 3 merous; complete

Fruit:

Physiology: autotrophic; C3 C02 fixation

Reproduction: sexual, vegetative

Ecology & Natural History

Habitat: Species is distributed in fertile, moist lowlands; marshy or swampy soils; grows in up to 2' of water; survives drought well; found in wet meadows, degraded habitats.

ILPIN Notes: Cultivated form with white leaves may escape from around old dwellings. Aquatic species refers to furbearers. Regarding aquatic species food value, this pertains to aquatic furbearers. Regarding aquatic species cover, this pertains to fish and furbearers. Species is used for erosion control. Weediness is "economic" according to PIN. For genus, it has a contracted panicle; Species has scaley rhizomes. Leaf width varies considerably. Form - seeds planted in spring, summer, or fall at 10-12 lbs./acre broadcast; 533, 000 seeds/lb.; matures in less than 90 days. Seed company numbers: 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 43, 44, 53, 54, 55, 58, 59. Species is both native and introduced. Swink et al. (ref. 7) and Mohlenbrock (ref. 8) feel that the present Midwest populations represent Eurasian introductions rather than natives.

Functional Relationships:

  • Pollinators:
  • Dispersal:
  • Mycorrhizae: endomycorrhizal
  • N2 fixation:

Human Relationships:

  • Edibility [?] :
  • Showy Flowers:

Wildlife and Livestock Information:

  • Food Value:
  • Cover Value: aquatic species: good

Coefficient of Conservatism (C-value) [?] :

  • Entire State:
  • Chicago Area:

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