Common name: Phalaris
Phalaris aquatica L. APNI* 
Description: Erect tufted perennial to 1.5 m high, with a loose to dense hard crown of usually contracted rhizomes.
Leaves with sheath smooth, rounded on the back; ligule membranous, to 12 mm long; blade flat, 2–14 mm wide, prominently striate.
Panicle spike-like, dense, 1.5–16 cm long, cylindrical to ovate-cylindrical. Spikelets 4.4–7.5 mm long, rarely proliferous. Glumes persistent, subequal, as long as the spikelet, narrowly winged. Sterile florets subulate and hirsute, one reduced to a few hairs or completely reduced to the base. Fertile lemma 3–4.6 mm long, 5-nerved, smooth and shining at maturity; palea 2-nerved, pubescent on the keel.
Flowering: spring.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in perennial pasture; extensively cultivated on the Tablelands. Native of Medit. region.
NSW subdivisions: *NC, *CC, *SC, *NT, *CT, *ST, *NWS, *CWS, *SWS, *NWP, *SWP, *LHI
Other Australian states: *Qld *Vic. *W.A. *S.A.
Text by S. W. L. Jacobs & S. M. Hastings
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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