Phalaris arundinacea

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Phalaris arundinacea
Phalaris arundinacea 1.jpg
Status TNC G5.svg
Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Pooideae
Genus: Phalaris
Species:
P. arundinacea
Binomial name
Phalaris arundinacea
L.
Variegated form, garden of Islington College, Nepal Phalaris arundinacea NP.JPG
Variegated form, garden of Islington College, Nepal

Phalaris arundinacea, or reed canary grass, [1] 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 Africa and North America. [2] Other common names for the plant include gardener's-garters and ribbon grass in English, alpiste roseau in French, Rohrglanzgras in German, kusa-yoshi in Japanese, caniço-malhado in Portuguese, and hierba cinta and pasto cinto in Spanish. [3]

Contents

Description

The stems can reach 2 metres (6.6 ft) in height. [4] The leaf blades are usually green, but may be variegated. The panicles are up to 30 centimetres (12 in) long. [4] The spikelets are light green, often streaked with darker green or purple. [5] This is a perennial grass which spreads underground by its thick rhizomes. [4]

Uses

A number of cultivars of P. arundinacea have been selected for use as ornamental plants, including variegated (striped) cultivars sometimes called ribbon grass such as 'Castor' and 'Feesey'. The latter has a pink tinge to the leaves. [6] When grown, although drought-tolerant, it likes abundant water and can even be grown as an aquatic plant. [6]

Reed canary grass grows well on poor soil and contaminated industrial sites, and researchers at Teesside University's Contaminated Land & Water Centre have suggested it as the ideal candidate for phytoremediation in improving soil quality and biodiversity at brownfield sites.[ citation needed ]

The grass can also easily be turned into bricks or pellets for burning in biomass power stations. [7] Furthermore, it provides fibers which find use in pulp and papermaking processes. [8]

P. arundinacea is also planted as a hay crop or for forage.

This species of Phalaris may also be used as a source for the psychedelic drugs DMT, 5-MeO-DMT and 5-OH-DMT (bufotenin), as well as Hordenine and 5-MeO-NMT; [9] however, N,N-DMT is considered most desirable. Although the concentrations of these compounds is lower than in other potential sources, such as Psychotria viridis and Mimosa tenuiflora , large enough quantities of the grass can be refined to make an ad hoc ayahuasca brew.

Ecology

In many places, P. arundinacea is an invasive species in wetlands, particularly in disturbed areas. [10] It has been reported as an invasive weed in floodplains, riverside meadows, and other wetland habitat types around the world. When P. arundinacea invades a wetland, it inhibits native vegetation and reduces biological diversity. [11] It alters the entire ecosystem. [12] The grass propagates by seed and rhizome, [10] and once established, is difficult to eradicate. [13]

Distribution

P. arundinacea now has worldwide distribution. It is regarded as native to both North America and Eurasia, but this is debated and it appears that the populations in North America are made up of a mixture of cultivars of both those that were introduced from Europe and indigenous varieties. [14]

Chemical properties

Specimens contain varying levels of hordenine and gramine. [15]

Leaves of P. arundinacea contain DMT, 5-MeO-DMT and related compounds. [16] Levels of beta-carbolines [17] and hordenine [18] have also been reported.

Related Research Articles

<i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-Dimethyltryptamine Chemical compound

N,N-Dimethyltryptamine is a substituted tryptamine that occurs in many plants and animals, including humans, and which is both a derivative and a structural analog of tryptamine. DMT is used as a psychedelic drug and prepared by various cultures for ritual purposes as an entheogen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reed (plant)</span> Index of plants with the same common name

Reed is a common name for several tall, grass-like plants of wetlands.

<i>Phalaris</i> (plant) Genus of flowering plant in the grass family Poaceae

Phalaris is a genus of flowering plants in the grass family. Species of Phalaris are distributed across all continents 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ornamental grass</span> Grass grown as an ornamental plant

Ornamental grasses are grasses grown as ornamental plants. Ornamental grasses are popular in many colder hardiness zones for their resilience to cold temperatures and aesthetic value throughout fall and winter seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reed bed</span> Habitats formed by reed colonies in floodplains and estuaries

A reedbed or reed bed is a natural habitat found in floodplains, waterlogged depressions and estuaries. Reedbeds are part of a succession from young reeds colonising open water or wet ground through a gradation of increasingly dry ground. As reedbeds age, they build up a considerable litter layer that eventually rises above the water level and that ultimately provides opportunities in the form of new areas for larger terrestrial plants such as shrubs and trees to colonise.

<i>Imperata cylindrica</i> Species of grass

Imperata cylindrica is a species of perennial rhizomatous grass native to tropical and subtropical Asia, Micronesia, Melanesia, Australia, Africa, and Southern Europe. It has also been introduced to Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Southeastern United States. It is a highly flammable pyrophyte, and can spread rapidly by colonizing disturbed areas and encouraging more frequent wildfires.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gramine</span> Chemical compound

Gramine 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canary grass</span> Species of grass

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.

<i>Canna indica</i> Species of flowering plant

Canna indica, commonly known as Indian shot, African arrowroot, edible canna, purple arrowroot, Sierra Leone arrowroot, is a plant species in the family Cannaceae. It is native to much of South America, Central America, the West Indies, and Mexico. It is also naturalized in the southeastern United States, and much of Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and Oceania.

<i>Phalaris aquatica</i> Species of plant

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.

<i>Arundo donax</i> Species of plant

Arundo donax is a tall perennial cane. It is one of several so-called reed species. It has several common names including giant cane, elephant grass, carrizo, arundo, Spanish cane, Colorado river reed, wild cane, and giant reed. Arundo and donax are respectively the old Latin and Greek names for reed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hordenine</span> Chemical compound

Hordenine is an alkaloid of the phenethylamine class that occurs naturally in a variety of plants, taking its name from one of the most common, barley. Chemically, hordenine is the N-methyl derivative of N-methyltyramine, and the N,N-dimethyl derivative of the well-known biogenic amine tyramine, from which it is biosynthetically derived and with which it shares some pharmacological properties. As of September 2012, hordenine is widely sold as an ingredient of nutritional supplements, with the claims that it is a stimulant of the central nervous system, and has the ability to promote weight loss by enhancing metabolism. In experimental animals, given sufficiently large doses parenterally, hordenine does produce an increase in blood pressure, as well as other disturbances of the cardiovascular, respiratory, and nervous systems. These effects are generally not reproduced by oral administration of the drug in test animals, and virtually no scientific reports of the effects of hordenine in human beings have been published.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indole alkaloid</span> Class of alkaloids

Indole alkaloids are a class of alkaloids containing a structural moiety of indole; many indole alkaloids also include isoprene groups and are thus called terpene indole or secologanin tryptamine alkaloids. Containing more than 4100 known different compounds, it is one of the largest classes of alkaloids. Many of them possess significant physiological activity and some of them are used in medicine. The amino acid tryptophan is the biochemical precursor of indole alkaloids.

<i>Phalaris brachystachys</i> Species of grass

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 during the spring and fall, while resting during the heat of midsummer and the short cool days of winter. It also must be protected from heavy freezes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">5-MeO-NMT</span> Chemical compound

5-MeO-NMT (5-methoxy-N-methyltryptamine) is an organic chemical compound, being the 5-methoxy analog of N-methyltryptamine (NMT). It was first isolated from Phalaris arundinacea. It has also been synthesized by Alexander Shulgin and reported in his book TiHKAL.

<i>Paspalum vaginatum</i> Species of plant

Paspalum vaginatum is a species of grass known by many names, including seashore paspalum, biscuit grass, saltwater couch, silt grass, and swamp couch. It is native to the Americas, where it grows in tropical and subtropical regions. It is found throughout the other tropical areas of the world, where it is an introduced species and sometimes an invasive weed. It is also cultivated as a turfgrass in many places.

<i>Galega orientalis</i> Species of legume

Galega orientalis is a species of flowering plant in the Fabaceae, the legume family. It is known commonly as fodder galega and eastern galega. It is cultivated as a fodder and forage for livestock.

<i>Sparganium americanum</i> Species of flowering plant

Sparganium americanum, American bur-reed, is a perennial plant found in the United States of America and Canada. Though this species resembles a grass, it is a type of bur-reed. This species is important for conservation purposes because it has the ability to remove nitrogen and phosphorus runoff from water, like many other wetland species. By doing this, it protects waterways from excess nitrogen which can cause eutrophication. This increased nitrogen is especially a problem during the farmers’ growing season. During this same time frame the S. americanum is growing and taking up nitrogen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qualicum National Wildlife Area</span> National Wildlife Area on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada

The Qualicum National Wildlife Area (NWA) was officially established in 1977, under the Canada Wildlife Act (1973). The primary objective of the Qualicum NWA was to conserve crucial habitats for migratory birds and various other species.

References

  1. Lee, Sangtae; Chang, Kae Sun, eds. (2015). English Names for Korean Native Plants (PDF). Pocheon: Korea National Arboretum. p. 568. ISBN   978-89-97450-98-5 . Retrieved 12 March 2019 via Korea Forest Service.
  2. "Phalaris arundinacea". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 2017-12-15.
  3. Phalaris arundinacea. USDA NRCS Plant Guide.
  4. 1 2 3 Waggy, Melissa, A. (2010). "Phalaris arundinacea". Fire Effects Information System. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. Phalaris arundinacea. Flora of China.
  6. 1 2 Phalaris arundinacea var. picta 'Feesey'.
  7. Bond, Sam (2010-02-23). "Candidate crops for contaminated land biofuels crop considered". edie.net/crc. Retrieved 2010-04-17.
  8. Andersson, B. and E. Lindvall. Use of biomass from reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) as raw material for production of paper pulp and fuel. Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine internationalgrasslands.org.
  9. Wilkinson, S. (1958). "428. 5-Methoxy-N-methyltryptamine: a new indole alkaloid from Phalaris arundinacea L". Journal of the Chemical Society (Resumed): 2079. doi:10.1039/jr9580002079.
  10. 1 2 Apfelbaum, Stephen I.; Sams, Charles E. (1997). "Ecology and control of reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.)". Natural Areas Journal. 7 (2): 69–74. JSTOR   43910930.
  11. Kim, K. D., et al. (2006). Controlling Phalaris arundinacea (reed canarygrass) with live willow stakes: A density-dependent response. Ecological Engineering 26 219–227.
  12. Lavergne, S. and J. Molofsky. (2004). Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) as a biological model in the study of plant invasions. [ permanent dead link ]Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences 23(5) 415–429.
  13. Batzer, Darold P.; Sharitz, Rebecca R. (2006). "Wetland Restoration". Ecology of freshwater and estuarine wetlands. Berkeley, California: University of California Press. p.  395. ISBN   978-0-520-24777-2.
  14. "Phalaris arundinacea (reed canary grass)". CABI. Retrieved 16 March 2020.citing, inter alia,Häfliger, Ernst; Scholz, Hildemar (1980). Grass weeds / 2, Weeds of the subfamilies 'Chloridoideae', 'Pooideae', 'Oryzoideae'. Documenta. Basel, Switzerland: CIBA-Geigy.
  15. Woods, D. L.; Hovin, A. W.; Marten, G. C. (1979). "Seasonal Variation of Hordenine and Gramine Concentrations and Their Heritability in Reed Canarygrass". Crop Science. 19 (6): 853–857. doi:10.2135/cropsci1979.0011183X001900060026x.
  16. Pennanen, Petrus (December 1995). "Tryptamine Carriers". Archived from the original on 6 July 1997.citingSmith, Terence A. (1977). "Review: Tryptamine and Related Compounds in Plants". Phytochemistry. 16: 171–175. doi:10.1016/S0031-9422(00)86778-3.
  17. Marten, G. C.; Jordan, R. M.; Hovin, A. W. (1976). "Biological Significance of Reed Canarygrass Alkaloids and Associated Palatability Variation to Grazing Sheep and Cattle". Agronomy Journal. 68 (6): 909–914. Bibcode:1976AgrJ...68..909M. doi:10.2134/agronj1976.00021962006800060017x.
  18. Saxton, J. Edwin; et al. (1974). The alkaloids Volume 4, A review of the literature published between July 1972 and June 1973. (Specialist Periodical Reports). London: The Chemical Society. p. 130. ISBN   978-0-85186-287-3.