Phalaris caroliniana
| Phalaris caroliniana | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Subfamily: | Pooideae |
| Genus: | Phalaris |
| Species: | P. caroliniana
|
| Binomial name | |
| Phalaris caroliniana | |
Phalaris caroliniana is a species of grass known as Carolina canarygrass and maygrass.
Background
[edit]It is native to the southern United States,[1] and it can be found as a naturalized species along the west coast of the United States,[2] as well as northern Mexico and parts of Europe and Australia.[citation needed] It is most often found in moist to wet habitats, such as marshy meadows, and it can thrive in disturbed areas. It is an annual grass reaching a maximum height between 1 and 1.5 m (3.3 and 4.9 ft). The hairy inflorescence is roughly oval in shape and up to 7 cm (2.8 in) long by 2 cm (0.79 in) wide.
This grass probably made up part of the Eastern Agricultural Complex of plants cultivated by pre-Columbian Native Americans in the United States. Its grains have been identified in archaeological sites from Texas to Indiana to Alabama which may be four millennia old.[3] Laboratory analysis of the grass seed indicates that it is quite nutritious, with a good amount of vitamins and minerals.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ USDA Plants Profile: Phalaris caroliniana
- ^ "Phalaris caroliniana". www.calflora.org. Calflora. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
- ^ Roberts, Katherine M. "Phalaris caroliniana". Laboratory Guide To Archaeological Plant Remains From Eastern North America. Washington University in St. Louis. Archived from the original on 2010-07-06.
- ^ Crites, G. D. & R. D. Terry. (1984). Nutritive value of maygrass, Phalaris caroliniana. Economic Botany 38:1 114-20.
External links
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