Taxon:  Phalaris canariensis L.



Summary
Genus:
Phalaris
Family:
Poaceae (alt. Gramineae)
Subfamily:
Pooideae
Tribe:
Poeae
Subtribe:
Phalaridinae
Nomen number:
27517
Place of publication:
Sp. pl. 1:54.  1753
Verified:
01/25/1996 ARS Systematic Botanists.
Accessions:
83 (52  active, 50  available) in National Plant Germplasm System.  (Map it)
Other conspecific taxa
Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations
Images (1 total. Click on image for more.)
Spikelets and/or florets

Conservation Status

Reference(s)
  1. University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
  2. Afonin, A. N., S. L. Greene, N. I. Dzyubenko, & A. N. Frolov, eds. Interactive agricultural ecological atlas of Russia and neighboring countries. Economic plants and their diseases, pests and weeds (on-line resource).
  3. Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
  4. Alderson, J. & W. C. Sharp. 1995. Grass varieties in the United States, U.S.D.A. Agric. Handb. 170, rev. ed. CRC Press. Note: Revised version of AH 170
  5. APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
  6. Arechavaleta, M. et al., coords. 2009. Lista de especies silvestres de Canarias: hongos, plantas y animales terrestres
  7. Baldini, R. M. 1995. Revision of the genus Phalaris L. (Gramineae). Webbia 49:285.
  8. Bor, N. L. 1960. The grasses of Burma, Ceylon, India, and Pakistan.
  9. Cogliatti, M. et al. 2011. Canaryseed (Phalaris canariensis L.) accessions from nineteen countries show useful genetic variation for agronomic traits. Canad. J. Pl. Sci. 91:37-48.
  10. Davis, P. H., ed. 1965-1988. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands.
  11. Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
  12. FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
  13. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 2010. Ecocrop (on-line resource).
  14. Giraldo-Cañas, D. 2011. Catálogo de la familia Poaceae en Colombia. Darwiniana 49:139-247.
  15. Howell, C. J. & J. W. D. Sawyer. 2006. New Zealand naturalised vascular plant checklist
  16. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. 2008. Flora del Conosur. Catálogo de las plantas vasculares.
  17. Integrated Botanical Information System (IBIS). Australian plant common name database (on-line resource).
  18. International Seed Testing Association. 1982. A Multilingual Glossary of Common Plant-Names 1. Field crops, grasses and vegetables, ed. 2.
  19. Kartesz, J. T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland.
  20. Koyama, T. 1987. Grasses of Japan and its neighboring regions
  21. Markle, G. M. et al., eds. 1998. Food and feed crops of the United States, ed. 2
  22. Mason, E. et al. 2018. Hairless Canaryseed: A novel cereal with health promoting potential. Nutrients 10:1327. DOI: 10.3390/nu100 91327.
  23. McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
  24. Perera, S. P. et al. 2020. Microstructure and distribution of oil, protein, and starch in different compartments of canaryseed (Phalaris canariensis L.). Cereal Chem. 98:405-422. DOI: 10.1002/cche.10381.
  25. Porcher, M. H. et al. Searchable World Wide Web Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (MMPND) (on-line resource).
  26. Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
  27. Silva, L. et al. 2005. Listagem da fauna e flora terrestres dos Açores. Lista des plantas vasculares (Pteridophyta e Spermatophyta).
  28. Skvortsov, A. K., ed. 2006. Flora of the Lower Volga region 1:137.
  29. Soreng, R. J. et al. 2003. Catalogue of New World grasses (Poaceae): IV. Subfamily Pooideae. Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 48:482.
  30. Tovar, Ó. 1993. Las gramíneas (Poaceae) del Perú. Ruizia 13:168.
  31. Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
  32. Ugarte, E. et al. 2011. Vascular alien flora, Chile. Check List 7:365-380.
  33. Vibrans, H., ed. Malezas de México (on-line resource).
  34. Villaseñor, J. L. & F. J. Espinoza-Garcia. 2004. The alien flowering plants of Mexico. Diversity & Distrib. 10:113-123.
  35. Wagner, W. L. et al. Flora of the Hawaiian Islands (on-line resource).
  36. Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
  37. 2018. Mid-Atlantic invasive plant species (on-line resource)
Common names
LanguageNameAlternate namenoteseqCitation
EnglishCanary grass  1Wiersema, J. H. & B. León. 1999. World economic plants: a standard reference CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
Englishseed Canary grass  1Integrated Botanical Information System (IBIS). Australian plant common name database (on-line resource).
Frenchalpiste des Canaries  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
GermanKanariengras  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Italianscagliola  2International Seed Testing Association. 1982. A Multilingual Glossary of Common Plant-Names 1. Field crops, grasses and vegetables, ed. 2.
Japanese Rōmajikanarii-kusa-yoshi  2Koyama, T. 1987. Grasses of Japan and its neighboring regions
Portuguesealpista  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Spanishalpiste  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Swedishkanariegräs  2Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
Distribution
order_codeStatusContinentSubcontinentCountryStateNoteReference
1NativeAfricaMacaronesiaSpainCanarias Arechavaleta, M. et al., coords. 2009. Lista de especies silvestres de Canarias: hongos, plantas y animales terrestres
1NativeAfricaNorthern AfricaAlgeria n.Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeAfricaNorthern AfricaEgypt  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeAfricaNorthern AfricaLibya  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeEastern EuropeEstonia  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeEastern EuropeRussian FederationAstrakhan Skvortsov, A. K., ed. 2006. Flora of the Lower Volga region 1:137.
1NativeEuropeEastern EuropeRussian FederationSaratov Skvortsov, A. K., ed. 2006. Flora of the Lower Volga region 1:137.
1NativeEuropeEastern EuropeRussian FederationVolgogradskaja oblast' Skvortsov, A. K., ed. 2006. Flora of the Lower Volga region 1:137.
2CultivatedEuropeMiddle EuropeCzech Republic  Cogliatti, M. et al. 2011. Canaryseed (Phalaris canariensis L.) accessions from nineteen countries show useful genetic variation for agronomic traits. Canad. J. Pl. Sci. 91:37-48.
2CultivatedEuropeMiddle EuropeHungary  Cogliatti, M. et al. 2011. Canaryseed (Phalaris canariensis L.) accessions from nineteen countries show useful genetic variation for agronomic traits. Canad. J. Pl. Sci. 91:37-48.
2CultivatedEuropeMiddle EuropeNetherlands  Cogliatti, M. et al. 2011. Canaryseed (Phalaris canariensis L.) accessions from nineteen countries show useful genetic variation for agronomic traits. Canad. J. Pl. Sci. 91:37-48.
2CultivatedNorthern America Canada  Cogliatti, M. et al. 2011. Canaryseed (Phalaris canariensis L.) accessions from nineteen countries show useful genetic variation for agronomic traits. Canad. J. Pl. Sci. 91:37-48.
2CultivatedNorthern America United States  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
2CultivatedSouthern AmericaSouthern South AmericaArgentinaBuenos Aires Cogliatti, M. et al. 2011. Canaryseed (Phalaris canariensis L.) accessions from nineteen countries show useful genetic variation for agronomic traits. Canad. J. Pl. Sci. 91:37-48.
2CultivatedSouthern AmericaSouthern South AmericaArgentinaEntre Ríos Cogliatti, M. et al. 2011. Canaryseed (Phalaris canariensis L.) accessions from nineteen countries show useful genetic variation for agronomic traits. Canad. J. Pl. Sci. 91:37-48.
2CultivatedSouthern AmericaSouthern South AmericaArgentinaLa Pampa Cogliatti, M. et al. 2011. Canaryseed (Phalaris canariensis L.) accessions from nineteen countries show useful genetic variation for agronomic traits. Canad. J. Pl. Sci. 91:37-48.
4NaturalizedAfricaMacaronesiaPortugalAzores Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaTurkey  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedAustralasiaNew ZealandNew Zealand  Howell, C. J. & J. W. D. Sawyer. 2006. New Zealand naturalised vascular plant checklist
4NaturalizedEuropeEastern EuropeBelarus  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedEuropeMiddle EuropeAustria  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedEuropeMiddle EuropeBelgium  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedEuropeNorthern EuropeDenmark  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedEuropeNorthern EuropeSweden  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedEuropeNorthern EuropeUnited Kingdom  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedEuropeSoutheastern EuropeAlbania  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedEuropeSoutheastern EuropeBulgaria  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedEuropeSoutheastern EuropeCroatia  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedEuropeSoutheastern EuropeSlovenia  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedEuropeSouthwestern EuropeFrance  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedEuropeSouthwestern EuropeSpainBaleares Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedNorthern America Mexico  Villaseñor, J. L. & F. J. Espinoza-Garcia. 2004. The alien flowering plants of Mexico. Diversity & Distrib. 10:113-123.
4NaturalizedPacificNorth-Central PacificUnited StatesHawaii Wagner, W. L. et al. Flora of the Hawaiian Islands (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaSouthern South AmericaArgentina  Soreng, R. J. et al. 2003. Catalogue of New World grasses (Poaceae): IV. Subfamily Pooideae. Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 48:482.
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaSouthern South AmericaChile  Ugarte, E. et al. 2011. Vascular alien flora, Chile. Check List 7:365-380.
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaWestern South AmericaColombia  Giraldo-Cañas, D. 2011. Catálogo de la familia Poaceae en Colombia. Darwiniana 49:139-247.
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaWestern South AmericaPeru  Tovar, Ó. 1993. Las gramíneas (Poaceae) del Perú. Ruizia 13:168.
5UncertainAfricaMacaronesiaPortugalMadeira Islands Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
5UncertainAfricaNorthern AfricaMorocco  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
Native
Africa
  • MACARONESIA: Spain [Canarias]
  • NORTHERN AFRICA: Algeria (n.), Egypt, Libya
Europe
  • EASTERN EUROPE: Estonia, Russian Federation [Astrakhan, Saratov, Volgogradskaja oblast']
Cultivated
Europe
  • MIDDLE EUROPE: Czech Republic, Hungary, Netherlands
Northern America
  • REGION: Canada, United States
Southern America
  • SOUTHERN SOUTH AMERICA: Argentina [Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, La Pampa]
Naturalized
Africa
  • MACARONESIA: Portugal [Azores]
Asia-Temperate
  • WESTERN ASIA: Turkey
Australasia
  • NEW ZEALAND: New Zealand
Europe
  • NORTHERN EUROPE: Denmark, United Kingdom, Sweden
  • MIDDLE EUROPE: Austria, Belgium
  • EASTERN EUROPE: Belarus
  • SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE: Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia
  • SOUTHWESTERN EUROPE: Spain [Baleares], France
Northern America
  • REGION: Mexico
Pacific
  • NORTH-CENTRAL PACIFIC: United States [Hawaii]
Southern America
  • WESTERN SOUTH AMERICA: Colombia, Peru
  • SOUTHERN SOUTH AMERICA: Argentina, Chile
Uncertain
Africa
  • MACARONESIA: Portugal [Madeira Islands]
  • NORTHERN AFRICA: Morocco

Reference(s)
  1. Arechavaleta, M. et al., coords. 2009. Lista de especies silvestres de Canarias: hongos, plantas y animales terrestres
  2. Cogliatti, M. et al. 2011. Canaryseed (Phalaris canariensis L.) accessions from nineteen countries show useful genetic variation for agronomic traits. Canad. J. Pl. Sci. 91:37-48.
  3. Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
  4. Giraldo-Cañas, D. 2011. Catálogo de la familia Poaceae en Colombia. Darwiniana 49:139-247.
  5. Howell, C. J. & J. W. D. Sawyer. 2006. New Zealand naturalised vascular plant checklist
  6. Skvortsov, A. K., ed. 2006. Flora of the Lower Volga region 1:137.
  7. Soreng, R. J. et al. 2003. Catalogue of New World grasses (Poaceae): IV. Subfamily Pooideae. Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 48:482.
  8. Tovar, Ó. 1993. Las gramíneas (Poaceae) del Perú. Ruizia 13:168.
  9. Ugarte, E. et al. 2011. Vascular alien flora, Chile. Check List 7:365-380.
  10. Villaseñor, J. L. & F. J. Espinoza-Garcia. 2004. The alien flowering plants of Mexico. Diversity & Distrib. 10:113-123.
  11. Wagner, W. L. et al. Flora of the Hawaiian Islands (on-line resource).
Economic Uses
UsageTypeNoteReference
Animal foodfodderfor birdseedDavis, P. H., ed. 1965-1988. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands.
Animal foodforage Alderson, J. & W. C. Sharp. 1995. Grass varieties in the United States, U.S.D.A. Agric. Handb. 170, rev. ed. CRC Press. Note: Revised version of AH 170
Human foodcereal Mason, E. et al. 2018. Hairless Canaryseed: A novel cereal with health promoting potential. Nutrients 10:1327. DOI: 10.3390/nu100 91327.
Human foodcerealpotentialMarkle, G. M. et al., eds. 1998. Food and feed crops of the United States, ed. 2
Human foodcerealunhairy varietiesPerera, S. P. et al. 2020. Microstructure and distribution of oil, protein, and starch in different compartments of canaryseed (Phalaris canariensis L.). Cereal Chem. 98:405-422. DOI: 10.1002/cche.10381.
Medicinesfolklore McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=27517. Accessed 15 April 2026.