Phalaris arundinacea
Reed Canary Grass
Phalaris arundinacea- Moss, Flora of Alberta – Circumpolar
- Global Invasive Species Database – Yes[1]
- NatureServe I-Rank – High
- Haber, Upland – No
- Haber, Wetland – Principal
- CWF, Status & Invasive Range – Low to moderate, ON, PQ
- Alberta Revegetation Guidelines – Invasive agronomic: This species includes 2 taxa, one native, the other Eurasian. The Eurasian taxon is invasive in wetlands
- The Nature Conservancy – Yes, w/ ESA
- CBCN – No
- AB Weed – No
Remarks
Native and Exotic. Used as a pasture grass for wet areas it spreads to choke streams and prevent the establishment of woody riparian species. Catling and Carbyn (2006, Canadian Field Naturalist 120, No 3 pp 307-312) supply a key to separate the non-native subspecies (australis) from the native subspecies (americanus). The native subspecies has reddish basal internodes and the longest lower glume is 3.8-7mm long. The non-native subspecies has pale yellow basal internodes with shorter lower glumes (the longest from 2.6 to 4.2 mm).
[2] Link to USDA Plant Profile for Phalaris arundinacea L.
[3] Link to USDA Plant Characteristics for Phalaris arundinacea L.
[4] Link to NatureServe Explorer Search for Phalaris arundinacea, click on the species link, and expand all sections to see detailed assessment of invasiveness (I-Rank)
[5] Link to Missouri Department of Conservation, Vegetation Management Guideline, Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.)
