Phleum (common name timothy) is a genus of annual and perennial plants in the grass family.[4] The genus is native to Europe, Asia and north Africa, with one species (P. alpinum) also in North and South America.[5]

Phleum
Phleum pratense
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Pooideae
Supertribe: Poodae
Tribe: Poeae
Subtribe: Phleinae
Dumort.
Genus: Phleum
L.
Type species
Phleum pratense
Synonyms[3]
  • Stelephuros Adans.
  • Plantinia Bubani
  • Achnodonton P.Beauv.
  • Chilochloa P.Beauv.
  • Achnodon Link
  • Maillea Parl.
  • Pseudophleum Dogan

They are tufted grasses growing to 20–150 cm tall, with cylindrical, spike-like panicles containing many densely packed spikelets.[6]

Species[3][7][8][9]
formerly included[3]

numerous species now considered better suited to other genera: Aegilops Alopecurus Beckmannia Crypsis Cynodon Cynosurus Digitaria Elytrophorus Ischaemum Mnesithea Muhlenbergia Pennisetum Pentameris Phalaris Polypogon Polytrias Sesleria Tribolium

Cultivation and uses

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Several species are important for cattle feed and as hay for horses and other domestic animals.[10]

References

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  1. ^ lectotype designated by Hitchcock, Prop. Brit. Bot.: 119. 1929
  2. ^ "Tropicos - Name - Phleum L." www.tropicos.org.
  3. ^ a b c "Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families". kew.org.
  4. ^ Linnaeus, Carl von. 1753. Species Plantarum 1: 59-60 in Latin
  5. ^ Germplasm Resources Information Network: Phleum
  6. ^ "Phleum in Flora of China @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
  7. ^ "Search results — The Plant List". www.theplantlist.org.
  8. ^ Altervista Flora Italiana genere Phleum photos and distribution maps for several species
  9. ^ "Flora Europaea Search Results". rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
  10. ^ "Plants Profile for Phleum (timothy)". www.plants.usda.gov. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2018-10-15.