Phalaris (grass)
1027027
220593894
2008-06-20T16:44:26Z
Eubot
231599
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{{for|the historical personage|Phalaris}}
{{Taxobox
| name = ''Phalaris''
| image = Phalaris aquatica.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = ''[[Phalaris aquatica]]''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Liliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Poales]]
| familia = [[Poaceae]]
| genus = '''''Phalaris'''''
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
15-22 species (see text)<br/>
}}
== Description ==
Various species of ''Phalaris'' grow on every continent except Antarctica. 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 areas. ''P. arundinacea'' and ''P. aquatica'' are sometimes invasive species in wetlands.
===Alkaloids===
Some ''Phalaris'' species contain [[gramine]], which can cause brain damage, other organ damage, [[central nervous system]] damage and death in sheep.<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&id=eASgQyXq8xMC&oi=fnd&pg=PA169&dq=%22mimosa+hostilis%22+dimethyltryptamine&ots=pe6oz-oODM&sig=D6kaAQYmEqSOkJ4kkztPcm2K10I#PPA171,M1
|title=Toxicants of Plant Origin - Google Book Search
|publisher=books.google.com
|accessdate=2008-04-20
|last=
|first=
}}</ref>
''[[Phalaris arundinacea]]'' and ''[[Phalaris aquatica]]'', as well as ''[[Phalaris brachystachys]]'', are known to contain the alkaloids [[dimethyltryptamine|N,N-DMT]] , [[5-MeO-DMT]], and [[Bufotenin|5-OH-DMT]].
Some research has been done into the variability of alkaloids in the ''Phalaris'' grasses. Strains with high levels of alkaloids are best avoided in locations with grazing cattle and sheep, due to potential toxicity. Such high-alkaloid strains include ''Phalaris Aquatica AQ-1'' and the species ''[[Phalaris brachystachys]]''. Seasonal and weather patterns also appear to affect alkaloid concentration, as most toxicity occurs in autumn and in times of drought. Regrowth after grazing or mowing also shows a considerable increase in alkaloids.
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto" style="background:white"
|+ Phalaris Species Known to Contain Alkaloids
|-----
| '''Species''' || <center>'''Total Alkaloids (Dried)'''</center> || <center>'''DMT'''</center> || <center>'''5-MeO-DMT'''</center> || <center>'''5-OH-DMT'''</center>
|-----
| ''[[Phalaris aquatica]]'' || <center>0.0007-0.18%<ref name="lycaeum" /></center> || <center>0.100%<ref name="erowid">[http://www.erowid.org/plants/phalaris/phalaris_faq.shtml Erowid Phalaris FAQ]</ref></center> || <center>0.022%<ref name="erowid" /></center> || <center>0.005%<ref name="erowid" /></center>
|-----
| ''[[Phalaris arundinacea]]'' || <center>0.0004-0.121%<ref name="lycaeum">[http://nepenthes.lycaeum.org/Plants/Phalaris/DMTLU.html Lycaeum]</ref></center> || || ||
|-----
| ''[[Phalaris brachystachys]]'' || <center>Aerial parts up to 3%</center> ||<center>x</center> || ||
|-----
|}
None of the above alkaloids are said to have been found in ''P. californica'', ''P. canariensis'', ''P. minor'' and hybrids of ''P. arundinacea'' together with ''P. aquatica''.<ref name="lycaeum" />
== Uses ==
Used in dried flower arrangements. Phalaris canariensis is commonly used for bird seed.
==Species==
[[Species]] include:
*''[[Phalaris amethystina]]'' Trin.
*''[[Phalaris angusta]]'' - timothy canarygrass
*''[[Phalaris aquatica]]'' - bulbous canarygrass, Harding grass, Hardinggrass, =''Phalaris tuberosa''
*''[[Phalaris arundinacea]]'' - reed canary grass, reed canarygrass
*''[[Phalaris brachystachys]]'' - shortspike canarygrass
*''[[Phalaris californica]]'' - California canarygrass
*''[[Phalaris canariensis]]'' - annual canarygrass, common canary grass, common canarygrass
*''[[Phalaris caroliniana]]'' - Carolina canarygrass
*''[[Phalaris coerulescens]]'' - sunolgrass
*''[[Phalaris commutata]]''
*''[[Phalaris elongata]]'' Braun-Blanq.
*''[[Phalaris lemmonii]]'' - Lemmon's canarygrass
*''[[Phalaris minor]]'' - canarygrass, littleseed canarygrass
*''[[Phalaris paradoxa]]'' - hood canarygrass
*''[[Phalaris platensis]]'' Henrard ex Wacht.<br/>
*''[[Phalaris truncata]]'' Guss. ex Bertol.
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PHALA2 USDA Plants Database]
* [http://www.itis.usda.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=41334 Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)]
* [http://delta-intkey.com/grass/www/phalaris.htm Grass Genera of the World]
* [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?8738,9179 Jepson Manual Treatment]
* [http://erowid.org/plants/phalaris/phalaris.shtml Erowid Phalaris Vault]
* [http://www.erowid.org/library/books_online/ayahuasca_apa/aya_sec3_part2_phalaris.shtml The genus Phalaris (Ayahuasca: alkaloids, plants & analogs: assembled by Keeper of the Trout)]
[[Category:Entheogens]]
[[Category:Forages]]
[[Category:Grasses]]
{{grass-stub}}
[[ca:Phalaris]]
[[cs:Chrastice (rod rostlin)]]
[[da:Rørgræs]]
[[de:Glanzgräser]]
[[es:Phalaris]]
[[hsb:Błysknica]]
[[pl:Mozga]]
[[pt:Phalaris]]
[[fi:Helvet]]
[[zh:虉草属]]