PHALARIS ARUNDINACEA
32. Phalaris arundinacea L. Reed Canarygrass.
A stout, erect perennial with long, scaly rootstocks; particularly adapted to mucky, sandy loam or silty loam soils high in moisture content, though fairly resistant to drought under cultural conditions; a valuable meadow grass.
Leaves rolled in the bud-shoot. Sheath not compressed, glabrous, smooth, light green or yellow-green; margins membranous and overlapping below; veins distinct and joined by numerous cross-nerves. Auricles absent. Collar distinct, glabrous, pale green or yellow, continuous, oblique. Ligule membranous, white, 2 to 5 mm. long, acute to obtuse, entire, erose, lacerate or split, minutely hairy on back. Blade 6 to 15 mm. wide, 10 to 30 cm. long, flat, sharp-pointed, glabrous or rarely very sparsely hairy at base, light green, glaucous, indistinctly ridged on upper surface; midrib prominent below; margins scabrous, slightly ciliate at base.