Lesser canary grass (Phalaris minor, Observ. Bot. 3: 8 (1783))

Family: Poaceae

Author: Retz.

Bibliography: Observ. Bot. 3: 8 (1783)

Year: 1783

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Phalaris

Vegetable: False

Observations: Macaronesia, Medit. to Himalaya and Eritrea

Description

Lesser canary grass, known scientifically as Phalaris minor, is a notable species within the Poaceae family. First documented in 1783, this grass was described by Olof Swartz in the extensive botanical work “Observ. Bot. 3: 8”. Lesser canary grass has a broad native range, spanning the diverse climatic regions from Macaronesia and the entire Mediterranean basin to the foothills of the Himalayas and extending eastward into Eritrea.

This plant is characterized by its robust growth and adaptability, thriving in a variety of environments. It is often found in semi-arid regions, temperate zones, and occasionally in tropical zones where it adapts to local conditions. The presence of lesser canary grass in these diverse locations is a testament to its ecological versatility and its ability to influence plant community dynamics significantly.

The poise of Phalaris minor within the vast Poaceae family underscores its importance as a grass species that has both ecological and agricultural significance. Although commonly seen in natural settings, it may sometimes be encountered in cultivated fields where it assumes the role of a weed, potentially impacting crop yields if not managed properly.

Understanding the distribution and characteristics of lesser canary grass is integral for both botanists and agriculturalists. The plant’s environmental preferences and adaptability make it a subject of interest in studies focused on plant distribution, adaptation, and the impact of invasive species in farming environments.

In summary, lesser canary grass (Phalaris minor) stands out due to its resilience and adaptability across various geographic regions. Its study provides important insights into plant behavior in different ecological niches, aiding in the broader understanding of plant science and agriculture.

Common Names

Deu: kleines glanzgras
Eng: lesser canary-grass, littleseed canarygrass, annual canary grass, bristle-spike canary grass, lesser canary grass, little-seed canary grass, small canary grass, wild canary grass, lesser canarygrass, mediterranean canary grass, little seed canarygrass
Dan: liden glansfrø
Lit: mažasis strypainis
Spa: alpiste valillo, pasto romano
Fra: phalaris mineur, petit alpiste
Swe: småflen
Por: talaceiro
Cym: pefrwellt bach, pefrwellt lleiaf
En: Lesser Canary grass, Annual Canary grass, Bristle-spike Canary grass, Wild Canary grass, Small Canary grass, Little-seed Canary grass, Littleseed canarygrass, Canary grass, Lesser Canary-grass, Lesser canarygrass, Mediterranean canary grass, Little seed canarygrass, Small Canary-grass, Small-seeded Canary-grass
Ar: شعير الفار (شَعير الفار)، عين القط (عين القُط), خرفار صغير
Ca: Escarola borda, Falaris menuda, Sanguinyol
Zh: 細鷸草, 细虉草
Da: Liden glansfrø
Fi: Pikkuhelpi
Fr: Phalaris mineur, Petit alpiste, Alpiste mineur
De: Kleines Glanzgras
He: חפורית קטנה
It: Scagliola minore
Lt: Mažasis strypainis
Pl: Mozga drobna
Pt: Talaceiro
Pt-br: Alfarino, Pasto-romano
Es: Alpiste valillo, Pasto romano
Sv: Småflen
Zh-tw: 細鷸草
Ur: دنبی سٹی
Cy: Pefrwellt bach, Pefrwellt Lleiaf

Synonyms

• Phalaris coerulescens var. minor ((Retz.) Mutel)
• Phalaris minor var. genuina (Maire & Weiller)
• Phalaris minor var. mouterdei (A.Camus & Gomb.)
• Phalaris minor var. glomerata (Janch. & Wacht.)
• Phalaris arundinacea var. minor ((Retz.) Paunero)
• Phalaris minor var. integra (Trab.)
• Phalaris minor f. subcylindrica (Jansen & Wacht.)
• Phalaris minor f. haematites (Trab.)
• Phalaris minor var. gracilis ((Parl.) Parl.)
• Phalaris capensis (Thunb.)
• Phalaris minor var. phaeosperma (Cavara)
• Phalaris minor var. haematitis ((Duval-Jouve) Jahand. & Maire)
• Phalaris minor var. bracteata (Janch. & Wacht.)
• Phalaris aquatica var. minor ((Retz.) Mutel)
• Phalaris mauritii (Sennen)
• Phalaris decumbens (Moench)
• Phalaris haematites (Duval-Jouve & Paris)
• Phalaris minor var. nepalensis ((Trin.) Bor)
• Phalaris minor f. integra ((Trab.) Trab.)
• Alopecurus otiporensis (Griff.)
• Phalaris ambigua (Fig. & De Not.)
• Phalaris minor subsp. gracilis (K.Richt.)
• Phalaris brevis (Trin.)
• Phalaris minor var. comosula (Heldr.)
• Phalaris minor f. gracilis ((Parl.) Trab.)
• Phalaris minor f. glomerata (Jansen & Wacht.)
• Phalaris minor f. composita (Jansen & Wacht.)
• Phalaris minor f. bracteata (Jansen & Wacht.)
• Phalaris haematites var. granulosa (Sennen & Mauricio)
• Phalaris gracilis (Parl.)
• Phalaris minor var. composita (Janch. & Wacht.)
• Phalaris nepalensis (Trin.)

Distribution

• Afghanistan (native)
• Albania (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Baleares (native)
• Canary Is. (native)
• Chad (native)
• Corse (native)
• Cyprus (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• East Himalaya (native)
• Egypt (native)
• Eritrea (native)
• France (native)
• Greece (native)
• Gulf States (native)
• India (native)
• Iran (native)
• Iraq (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Kuwait (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Libya (native)
• Madeira (native)
• Mauritania (native)
• Morocco (native)
• Nepal (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• Oman (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Palestine (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Saudi Arabia (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• Sinai (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sudan (native)
• Tadzhikistan (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Tunisia (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Turkmenistan (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• Western Sahara (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Alaska (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Arizona (introduced)
• Austria (introduced)
• Azores (introduced)
• Bolivia (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Chatham Is. (introduced)
• Chile Central (introduced)
• China South-Central (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Colorado (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• Denmark (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• Free State (introduced)
• Germany (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Japan (introduced)
• Kermadec Is. (introduced)
• Korea (introduced)
• Krym (introduced)
• KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
• Louisiana (introduced)
• Magadan (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Mexican Pacific Is. (introduced)
• Mexico Central (introduced)
• Mexico Northeast (introduced)
• Mexico Northwest (introduced)
• Mexico Southeast (introduced)
• Mexico Southwest (introduced)
• Netherlands (introduced)
• New Brunswick (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• New Mexico (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• New Zealand South (introduced)
• Norfolk Is. (introduced)
• Northern Provinces (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Peru (introduced)
• Philippines (introduced)
• Primorye (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• South Australia (introduced)
• South Carolina (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Ukraine (introduced)
• Victoria (introduced)
• Western Australia (introduced)
• Zimbabwe (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken May 17, 2018 by César Gonzalez (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 18, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 4, 2008 by Tela Botanica − Errol Vela (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 17, 2005 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 8, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Gisèle DAKHLIA (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Apr 15, 2001 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken May 15, 2015 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken Jun 18, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 18, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 18, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken May 20, 2017 by Pedro Salgadinho (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 9, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Marie PORTAS (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 4, 2010 by EOL − Zoya Akulova (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jan 3, 2016 by EOL − Drepanostoma (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jun 18, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Mar 13, 2020 by anil kumar (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 13, 2020 by anil kumar (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 3, 2016 by EOL − Drepanostoma (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jun 11, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 4, 2008 by Tela Botanica − Errol Vela (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Apr 27, 2022 by Pablos (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 24, 2022 by Abdul Ghaffar (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 17, 2022 by Martín Luque (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 7, 2021 by Sawsan kraiem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 7, 2021 by Sawsan kraiem (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Mar 24, 2022 by Abdul Ghaffar (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Photoflora – L’Abbé COSTE (©)

Taken Jun 30, 1850 by Tela Botanica − Herbier PONTARLIER-MARICHAL (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 4, 2008 by Tela Botanica − Errol Vela (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:415632-1)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5289752)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Phalaris minor Retz.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Graminoid

Growth

Bloom months: [‘may’, ‘jun’, ‘jul’, ‘aug’, ‘sep’]