Phalaris caroliniana

Phalaris caroliniana is a species of grass known as Carolina canarygrass and maygrass.

Phalaris caroliniana
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Poaceae
Subfamily:	Pooideae
Genus:	Phalaris
Species:	P. caroliniana
Binomial name
Phalaris caroliniana Walter

Background

It is native to the southern United States,^[1] and it can be found as a naturalized species along the west coast of the United States,^[2] as well as northern Mexico and parts of Europe and Australia.^{[citation needed]} It is most often found in moist to wet habitats, such as marshy meadows, and it can thrive in disturbed areas. It is an annual grass reaching a maximum height between 1 and 1.5 m (3.3 and 4.9 ft). The hairy inflorescence is roughly oval in shape and up to 7 cm (2.8 in) long by 2 cm (0.79 in) wide.

This grass probably made up part of the Eastern Agricultural Complex of plants cultivated by pre-Columbian Native Americans in the United States. Its grains have been identified in archaeological sites from Texas to Indiana to Alabama which may be four millennia old.^[3] Laboratory analysis of the grass seed indicates that it is quite nutritious, with a good amount of vitamins and minerals.^[4]