Phalaris brachystachys Link, Poaceae

Click on an image for links to BIGGER PICTURES

Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

English: short-spiked canarygrass

French: alpiste

Spanish: rabo de cordero

Habit:  grass

Description:  "Habit: Annual; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30-90 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 10-20 cm long; 2-8 mm wide. Inflorescence a panicle. Panicle spiciform; ovate; 1.5-4 cm long; 0.8-1.8 cm wide. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 6.3-8.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 6.3-8.5 mm long; 1 times length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; winged on keel; winged above; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous, or pilose. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 6.3-8.5 mm long; 1.4-1.5 times length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; winged on keel; winged above; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pilose. Upper glume apex acute. Florets: Basal sterile florets similar; barren; without significant palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 0.6-1.2 mm long; 0.1-0.2 times length of fertile lemma; fleshy; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; laterally compressed; 4.5-5.5 mm long; cartilaginous; shiny; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex acute. Palea cartilaginous; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface pubescent. Flower: Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous. Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 3.5-3.9 mm long. Hilum linear"  (GrassBase).

Habitat/ecology:  In New Caledonia, "mauvaise herbe peu commune" (MacKee, 1994; p. 61).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Macaronesia, northern Africa, Europe, western Asia (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 61) Voucher cited: MacKee 15722

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced	Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 192)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Phalaris brachystachys, please let us know.