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Phalaris arundinacea Linnaeus. Common name: Reed Canary-grass, Ribbon Grass. Phenology: May-Jul. Habitat: Fens, calcareous spring marshes, wet meadows, wet fields, moist forests, moist disturbed areas, bogs. Distribution: NL (Newfoundland) west to AK, south to NC, TN, AR, NM, CA; Mexico; Eurasia.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: "North American populations may be a mix of native strains, European strains, and agronomic cultivars (Merigliano & Lesica 1998)" (Barkworth 2007q). It is unsatisfying that this species is both considered "native" in our region, as well as "alien" and "invasive" because of its complicated origins and genotype.

Other Comments: A variegated form, P. arundinacea forma variegata (Parnell) Druce, is cultivated for ornament, as Ribbon Grass.

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, F, FNA24, GW1, Il, K4, Mi, Mo1, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WV, Tucker (1996), Voshell, Baldini, & Hilu (2016); = Phalaroides arundinacea (L.) Rauschert; > Phalaris arundinacea L. var. arundinacea — G, HC; > Phalaris arundinacea L. var. picta L. — G, HC. Basionym: Phalaris arundinacea L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Phalaris arundinacea - FNA24

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACW
  • Great Plains: FACW
  • Midwest: FACW
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACW

Heliophily ⓘ: 8

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image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© guywallbanks, some rights reserved (CC BY) source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© guywallbanks, some rights reserved (CC BY) source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gage Barnes, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Gage Barnes source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce Sorrie
image of plant© Matt Pilkington, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Pilkington source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Nate Hartley, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Nate Hartley source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Radford, Ahles and Bell | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

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