''Phalaris'' is a genus of

grass Poaceae () or Gramineae () is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos and the grasses of natural grassland and species cultivated in law ...

es. Various species of ''Phalaris'' grow on every continent except Antarctica. They can be found in a broad range of habitats from below sea level to thousands of feet above sea level and from wet marshy areas to dry places. ''P. arundinacea'' and ''P. aquatica'' are sometimes invasive species in wetlands.

Alkaloids

Some ''Phalaris'' species contain

gramine Gramine (also called donaxine) is a naturally occurring indole alkaloid present in several plant species. Gramine may play a defensive role in these plants, since it is toxic to many organisms. Occurrence Gramine has been found in the giant reed, ...

, which, in sheep and to a lesser extent in cattle, is

toxic Toxicity is the degree to which a chemical substance or a particular mixture of substances can damage an organism. Toxicity can refer to the effect on a whole organism, such as an animal, bacterium, or plant, as well as the effect on a subs ...

and can cause brain damage, other organ damage,

central nervous system The central nervous system (CNS) is the part of the nervous system consisting primarily of the brain and spinal cord. The CNS is so named because the brain integrates the received information and coordinates and influences the activity of all p ...

damage, and death. ''

Phalaris arundinacea ''Phalaris arundinacea'', or reed canary grass, is a tall, perennial bunchgrass that commonly forms extensive single-species stands along the margins of lakes and streams and in wet open areas, with a wide distribution in Europe, Asia, northern ...

'', ''

Phalaris aquatica ''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 ...

'', and ''

Phalaris brachystachys ''Phalaris brachystachys'', the confused canary-grass or shortspike canarygrass, is an annual grass with growth habits and cultural requirements similar to ''Phalaris aquatica''. It is native to the Mediterranean region. It grows most actively du ...

'' are known to contain the alkaloids

DMT ''N'',''N''-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT or ''N'',''N''-DMT, SPL026) is a substituted tryptamine that occurs in many plants and animals, including human beings, and which is both a derivative and a structural analog of tryptamine. It is used as a ...

5-MeO-DMT 5-MeO-DMT (5-methoxy-''N'',''N''-dimethyltryptamine) or O-methyl-bufotenin is a psychedelic of the tryptamine class. It is found in a wide variety of plant species, and also is secreted by the glands of at least one toad species, the Colorado R ...

, and 5-OH-DMT (bufotenin). Some research has been done into the variability of alkaloids in the ''Phalaris'' grasses. Strains with high levels of alkaloids are best avoided in locations with grazing cattle and sheep, due to potential toxicity. Such high-alkaloid strains include ''Phalaris aquatica AQ-1'' and the species ''P. brachystachys''. Seasonal and weather patterns also appear to affect alkaloid concentration, as most toxicity occurs in autumn and in times of drought. Regrowth after grazing or mowing also shows a considerable increase in alkaloids. In June 2018, mobs of wild

kangaroo Kangaroos are four marsupials from the family Macropodidae (macropods, meaning "large foot"). In common use the term is used to describe the largest species from this family, the red kangaroo, as well as the antilopine kangaroo, eastern ...

s were observed suffering from "phalaris staggers" which causes head tremors, a loss of co-ordination and collapse. When phalaris is used to feed livestock, farmers can administer

cobalt Cobalt is a chemical element with the symbol Co and atomic number 27. As with nickel, cobalt is found in the Earth's crust only in a chemically combined form, save for small deposits found in alloys of natural meteoric iron. The free element, ...

to their animals or spray it on their pastures to protect animals against the effects of phalaris. However, this treatment is not available to wild kangaroos and they suffer from poisoning due to the alkaloids. The staggers syndrome is more common in livestock in areas with

limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms wh ...

soils, which contain less cobalt than

basalt Basalt (; ) is an aphanitic (fine-grained) extrusive igneous rock formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity lava rich in magnesium and iron (mafic lava) exposed at or very near the surface of a rocky planet or moon. More than 90% of a ...

soils. None of the above alkaloids is said to have been found in ''P. californica'', ''P. canariensis'', ''P. minor'' and hybrids of ''P. arundinacea'' together with ''P. aquatica''.

Uses

Some species are used in dried flower arrangements. ''Phalaris canariensis'' is commonly used for

birdseed Bird food or bird seed is food (often varieties of seeds, nuts, and/or dried fruits) intended for consumption by wild and domestic birds. While most bird food is fed to commercial fowl (such as chicken or turkey), bird food is also used to fe ...

. ''Phalaris arundinacea'' is also being trialled as a potential bioenergy crop in Ireland.Reed Canary Grass.
Teagasc. 2007.

Species

Species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of ...

include: *''

Phalaris amethystina Phalaris ( el, Φάλαρις) was the tyrant of Akragas (now Agrigento) in Sicily, from approximately 570 to 554 BC. History Phalaris was renowned for his excessive cruelty. Among his alleged atrocities is cannibalism: he was said to have e ...

'' Trin. *''

Phalaris angusta ''Phalaris angusta'' is a species of Poaceae, grass known by the common names timothy canarygrass and narrow canarygrass. It is native to the Americas, where it is most common in Chile and Argentina and can be found in northern South America and ...

'' - timothy canarygrass *''

'' - bulbous canarygrass, Harding grass, Hardinggrass (syn. ''Phalaris tuberosa'') *''

'' - reed canary grass, reed canarygrass *''

'' - shortspike canarygrass *''

Phalaris californica ''Phalaris californica'' is an uncommon species of grass known by the common name California canarygrass. Distribution It is native to the coastal hills and mountains of southern Oregon and northern and central California, where it grows mainly ...

'' - California canarygrass *''

Phalaris canariensis Canary grass is a plant, ''Phalaris canariensis'', belonging to the family Poaceae. Originally a native of the Mediterranean region, it is now grown commercially in several parts of the world for birdseed. Description ''Phalaris canariensis' ...

'' - annual canarygrass, common canary grass, common canarygrass *''

Phalaris caroliniana ''Phalaris caroliniana'' is a species of grass known as Carolina canarygrass and maygrass. Background It is native to the southern United States, and it can be found as a naturalized species along the west coast of the United States, as well a ...

'' - Carolina canarygrass, maygrass, see

Eastern Agricultural Complex The Eastern Agricultural Complex in the woodlands of eastern North America was one of about 10 independent centers of plant domestication in the pre-historic world. Incipient agriculture dates back to about 5300 BCE. By about 1800 BCE the Native ...

*''

Phalaris coerulescens ''Phalaris coerulescens'', the sunolgrass, is a plant in the family Poaceae. External links *Universitat de les Illes Balears: ''Phalaris coerulescens'' coerulescens Taxa named by René Louiche Desfontaines Flora of Malta {{Pooide ...

'' - sunolgrass *''

Phalaris commutata Phalaris ( el, Φάλαρις) was the tyrant of Akragas (now Agrigento) in Sicily, from approximately 570 to 554 BC. History Phalaris was renowned for his excessive cruelty. Among his alleged atrocities is cannibalism: he was said to have e ...

'' *''

Phalaris elongata Phalaris ( el, Φάλαρις) was the tyrant of Akragas (now Agrigento) in Sicily, from approximately 570 to 554 BC. History Phalaris was renowned for his excessive cruelty. Among his alleged atrocities is cannibalism: he was said to have e ...

'' Braun-Blanq. *''

Phalaris lemmonii ''Phalaris lemmonii'' is an uncommon species of grass known by the common name Lemmon's canarygrass. It is endemic to California, where it can be found in coastal and inland mountain ranges and the Central Valley. Description It grows mainly i ...

'' - Lemmon's canarygrass *''

Phalaris minor ''Phalaris minor'' is a species of grass native to North Africa, Europe, and South Asia. The bunchgrass is widely naturalised elsewhere. Common names include little seed canary grass, small-seeded canary grass, small canary grass, lesser-canary ...

'' - canarygrass, littleseed canarygrass *''

Phalaris paradoxa ''Phalaris paradoxa'' is a species of grass in genus ''Phalaris''. Common names include awned canary-grass and hood canarygrass. The spikelets are very different from those of other members of this genus. The spikelet glumes each have a hook. ...

'' - hood canarygrass *''

Phalaris platensis Phalaris ( el, Φάλαρις) was the tyrant of Akragas (now Agrigento) in Sicily, from approximately 570 to 554 BC. History Phalaris was renowned for his excessive cruelty. Among his alleged atrocities is cannibalism: he was said to have e ...

'' Henrard ex Wacht. *''

Phalaris truncata ''Phalaris truncata'' is a species of plant in the family Poaceae Poaceae () or Gramineae () is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos an ...

'' Guss. ex Bertol.

References

External links

USDA Plants Database

Jepson Manual Treatment

Erowid ''Phalaris'' Vault

The genus ''Phalaris'' in Ayahuasca
Psychedelic tryptamine carriers Forages Poaceae genera Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus {{Pooideae-stub