Phalaris aquatica, known by the common names bulbous canary-grass and Harding grass, is a species of grass in the genus Phalaris of the family Poaceae.
Description
It is an erect, waist-high, stout perennial bunch grass, with grayish to bluish green leaves. Flowering heads are dense, spike-like, and usually 2 to 5 inches (50 to 125 mm) long. It is slow to develop from seed, but can form large bunches after several years.
Phalaris arundinacea (reed canary grass) differs from Harding grass in having more distinct rhizomes, and an inflorescence that is compact at first but becomes more open as the branches spread.
Interspecific hybrids between Phalaris aquatica and Phalaris arundinacea have been produced through plant breeding programs to combine agronomic traits from both species.
P. aquatica is a quick-growing grass which incorporates and utilises soil nitrogen rapidly.
Geography
Phalaris aquatica originated from Southern Europe and the Caucasus. It is naturalized in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the United States. Although very recently introduced there, its pasture value was first recognised in Australia. Domesticated cultivation then spread to the United States, Argentina and several other countries in South America, and New Zealand.
Constituents
Phalaris aquatica contains a variety of secondary metabolites, primarily indole and tryptamine alkaloids, which are implicated in livestock toxicity.
Isolated chemical constituents of Phalaris aquatica
Compound name
Reference
5,7-Dimethoxygramine
5-Hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (Bufotenin)
5-Methoxygramine
5-Methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT)
7-Methoxygramine
Gramine
N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT)
N-Methyltryptamine (NMT)
Agricultural use
Phalaris aquatica is commercial propagated as a cultivated pasture plant and can provide high-quality fodder for 8 to 12 months of the year. It has been widely adopted in pasture management due to its fast growth rate and high nutritional...
