Description :

• Annual or perennial, tufted, rhizomatous, sometimes geniculate
• Leaf blade linear to linear-lanceolate, expanded; ligule a conspicuous, unfringed membrane
• Inflorescence a dense, oblong or spike-like panicle, sometimes subcapitate or interrupted and lobed, ( P. paradoxa : 1 fertile spikelet surrounded by 5 or 6 sterile spikelets, these often reduced to clavate knobs; the whole falling as a unit); spikelets shortly pedicelled
• Spikelet strongly laterally compressed, disarticulating above glumes; glumes ± equal, completely enclosing lemma, membranous, boat-shaped, almost plano-convex in outline, subobtuse, 3-nerved, strongly keeled, keels often winged and toothed
• Florets 3, lowest 2 florets sterile, reduced to rudimentary lemmas, varying from very small to more than half as long as upper lemma, glabrous; uppermost floret bisexual; lemma firmer than glumes, chartaceous, ovate-elliptic or ovate-lanceolate, usually softly hairy, 5-nerved, obtuse or acute, awnless; palea relatively long, keelless
• Lodicules 2, membranous, hyaline
• Stamens 3
• Ovary ellipsoid; styles distinct, plumose
• Caryopsis ellipsoid
• x = 6, 7 (aneuploids, high polyploidy)

Nomenclature:

• *Phalaris L.
  • Linnaeus: 54 (1753)
  • Stapf: 682 (1900)
  • Stent: 275 (1924)
  • Chippindall: 88 (1955)
  • Anderson: 1 (1961)
  • Hubbard: 95 (1970)
  • Launert: 81 (1971)
  • Clayton & Renvoize: 133 (1986)
  • Gibbs Russell et al.: 267 (1990)
  • Watson & Dallwitz: 722 (1994)
  • Baldini: 265 (1995)

Distribution & Notes:

• Global : Species ± 16, north temperate, but mostly from Mediterranean region, also South America
• Southern Africa : Species 6, widespread weeds or escapes from cultivation