Native Plants

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Strickland, Sam C.

Phalaris caroliniana

Phalaris caroliniana Walter

Carolina Canarygrass, Maygrass

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: PHCA6

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

From the Image Gallery

11 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Inflorescence: Panicle
Fruit Type: Caryopsis
Size Notes: Up to about 5 feet tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Not Applicable
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun
Bloom Notes: Seed heads when young are very green, turning tan when mature and dry.

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , FL , GA , KS , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NM , NV , OH , OK , OR , SC , TN , TX , VA
Native Habitat: Loamy & alluvial soils, creek sides, in disturbed soils, fields, pastures.

Benefit

Use Food: Seeds consumed by indigenous peoples of eastern North America before the arrival of maize.
Attracts: Birds

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FACW		FACW		FACW	FACW		FACW		FACW

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Fredericksburg Nature Center - Fredericksburg, TX
Stengl Biological Research Station - Smithville, TX

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-1020 Collected 2007-05-11 in Hays County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

1 collection(s) available in the Wildflower Center Seed Bank

Bibliography

Bibref 293 - Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas (1979) Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston
Bibref 1222 - Rivers of Change: Essays on Early Agriculture in Eastern North America (1992) Smith, Bruce D.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Additional resources

USDA: Find Phalaris caroliniana in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Phalaris caroliniana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Phalaris caroliniana

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-12-02
Research By: TWC Staff

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