Phalaris caroliniana is a species of grass known as Carolina canarygrass and maygrass.

Phalaris caroliniana
Scientific classification Edit this 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

Background

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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 prehistoric 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

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  1. ^ USDA Plants Profile: Phalaris caroliniana
  2. ^ "Phalaris caroliniana". www.calflora.org. Calflora. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Crites, G. D. & R. D. Terry. (1984). Nutritive value of maygrass, Phalaris caroliniana. Economic Botany 38:1 114-20.
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