Poaceae FAMILY

Phalaris canariensis

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

1/5

Safety & Hazards

The small silicious hairs on the hulls are potential carcinogens and have been linked to cancer of the oesophagus when present as a contaminant in wheat flour used in baking bread[ 289 Title The National Non-Food Crops Centre Crop Database Publication Author Website http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/crops/pd.cfm Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line information source, with information on over 100 species (as of 2006) of plants being investigated as bio-crops. ]. The hairs are also severe skin irritants to operators during harvesting and transportation of the grain[ 289 Title The National Non-Food Crops Centre Crop Database Publication Author Website http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/crops/pd.cfm Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line information source, with information on over 100 species (as of 2006) of plants being investigated as bio-crops. ].

Botanical Description

Phalaris canariensis is an annual plant that can grow up to 0.60 metres tall. It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeEurope - Mediterranean.

HabitatDry open habitats[ 50 Title Flora Europaea Publication Author ? Publisher Cambridge University Press Year 1964 ISBN - Description An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for Europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader. ]. A casual of waste places in Britain[ 17 Title Flora of the British Isles. Publication Author Clapham, Tutin and Warburg. Publisher Cambridge University Press Year 1962 ISBN - Description A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures. ].