Phalaris

For the historical personage, see Phalaris.

? Phalaris
Phalaris canariensis
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Liliopsida Order: Poales Family: Poaceae Genus: Phalaris
Species
See text.

Phalaris is a genus of Poaceae.

Species include:

• Phalaris angusta - timothy canarygrass
• Phalaris aquatica - bulbous canarygrass, Harding grass, Hardinggrass, =Phalaris tuberosa
• Phalaris arundinacea - reed canary grass, reed canarygrass
• Phalaris brachystachys - shortspike canarygrass
• Phalaris californica - California canarygrass
• Phalaris canariensis - annual canarygrass, common canary grass, common canarygrass
• Phalaris caroliniana - Carolina canarygrass
• Phalaris coerulescens - sunolgrass
• Phalaris commutata
• Phalaris lemmonii - Lemmon's canarygrass
• Phalaris minor - canarygrass, littleseed canarygrass
• Phalaris paradoxa - hood canarygrass

Distribution and Uses

Various species of Phalaris grow on every continent except Antarctica. Found in a broad range of habitats from below sea level to thousands of feet above sea level and from wet marshy areas to dry areas. Used in dried flower arrangements. Phalaris canariensis is commonly used for bird seed.

P. arundinacea and P. aquatica are sometimes invasive species in wetlands. P. arundinacea and P. aquatica are known to contain the psychedelic tryptamines 5-MeO-DMT, 5-OH-DMT, and N,N-DMT.

Phalaris Species Known to Contain Alkaloids

Species	Total Alkaloids	DMT	5-MeO-DMT	5-OH-DMT
Phalaris aquatica	0.0007-0.18%
Phalaris arundinacea	0.0004-0.121%
Phalaris brachystachys	Aerial parts up to 3%	x
Phalaris tuberosa		0.100%	0.022%	0.005%

None of the above alkaloids are said to have been found in P. californica, P. canariensis, P. minor and hybrids of P. arundinacea together with P. aquatica.

External links

• USDA Plants Database
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)
• Grass Genera of the World
• Jepson Manual Treatment