General: Grass Family (Poaceae). Koleagrass is an introduced, tall, robust, rapid-developing bunchgrass with short rhizomes. This species includes both Phalaris tuberosa var. stenoptera (previously known as Harding grass) and Phalaris tuberosa var. hirtiglumis (previously known as koleagrass). P.t. var. hirtiglumis was recognized to have bigger seeds, more vigorous seedlings, yellow-green leaves, and hairy glumes. Both of these varieties have been submerged taxonomically into Phalaris aquatica.

Distribution: Koleagrass was introduced from Morocco. Used for pasture and erosion control in California and sparingly in other parts of the southwestern U.S. Consult the PLANTS Web site for its U.S. distribution.

Bulbous canarygrass, hardinggrass, Phalaris tuberosa var. hirtiglumis (koleagrass), Phalaris tuberosa var. stenoptera (Harding grass), Towoomba canary grass, alpiste bulbeaux, phalaris tubereux, herbe de Harding, knolliges Glanzgras, capim-doce, rabillode cordero

Phalaris aquatica L.:
Algeria (Africa & Madagascar)
Argentina (South America)
Australia (Oceania)
Baleares (Europe)
Bolivia (South America)
Brazil (South America)
Chile (South America)
New Zealand (Oceania)
Ecuador (South America)
Malta (Europe)
Morocco (Africa & Madagascar)
Cyprus (Asia)
Ethiopia (Africa & Madagascar)
France (Europe)
Greece (Europe)
Iraq (Asia)
Israel (Asia)
Italy (Europe)
Kenya (Africa & Madagascar)
Libya (Africa & Madagascar)
Madeira (Africa & Madagascar)
Egypt (Africa & Madagascar)
Mexico (Mesoamerica)
South Africa (Africa & Madagascar)
United States (North America)
Canada (North America)
Uruguay (South America)
Peru (South America)
Venezuela (South America)
Corsica (Europe)
Yugoslavia (Europe)
Portugal (Europe)
Canary Islands (Africa & Madagascar)
Syria (Asia)
Spain (Europe)
Turkey (Asia)
United Kingdom (Europe)
Pakistan (Asia)
China (Asia)

Phalaris elongata Braun-Blanq.:
Algeria (Africa & Madagascar)
France (Europe)
Italy (Europe)
Morocco (Africa & Madagascar)
Poland (Europe)
Tunisia (Africa & Madagascar)

Phalaris aquatica var. stenoptera (Hack.) Burkart:
Argentina (South America)
Brazil (South America)
Uruguay (South America)
United States (North America)

Phalaris stenoptera Hack.:
Australia (Oceania)

Phalaris tuberosa var. stenoptera (Hack.) Hitchc.:
Australia (Oceania)
Mexico (Mesoamerica)
Uruguay (South America)
United States (North America)

United States

Origin: Exotic

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

Global Range: Native to Mediterrean Europe. Introduced to CA.

Distribution: Pakistan (Baluchistan: introduced); native to the Mediterranean region, but widely introduced elsewhere.

Koleagrass is adapted in California below 2,000 feet to the Mediterranean-like climatic zone or where frost heaving is not a problem. It will grow where there is 12 inches of annual rainfall and there is soil profile development (clay layer). Moisture holding capacity of the soil becomes less critical as rainfall increases. It establishes itself early, grows well during cold winter months, and reseeds readily.

Phalaris aquatica is based on two specimens, an Egyptian plant collected by Hasselquist, which is the same as Linnaeus’ own Phalaris tuberosa, and an Italian plant illustrated by Barrelier (1714) which is almost certainly Phalaris tuberosa. An illustration by Buxbaum (1728) of a plant from the Bosphorus is also cited by Linnaeus under Phalaris aquatica. The base of this plant is not illustrated, however, so its identity must remain a mystery. It may be Phalaris aquatica (or Phalaris tuberose) although Bor (in Fl. Iran. 349) was quite certain that it is not. Despite repeated misuse of the name Phalaris aquatica in the earlier literature, its identity is quite clear and Bor was not justified in rejecting it as a nomen confusum.

Bulb Canary Grass is introduced in Pakistan and is a valuable fodder grass.

Perennials, Terrestrial, not aquatic, Rhizomes present, Rhizome short and compact, stems close, Stems nodes swollen or brittle, Stems erect or ascending, Stems caespitose, tufted, or clustered, Stems terete, round in cross section, or polygonal, Stem internodes hollow, Stems with inflorescence less than 1 m tall, Stems with inflorescence 1-2 m tall, Stems, culms, or scapes exceeding basal leaves, Leaves mostly cauline, Leaves conspicuously 2-ranked, distichous, Leaves sheathing at base, Leaf sheath mostly open, or loose, Leaf sheath smooth, glabrous, Leaf sheath and blade differentiated, Leaf blades linear, Leaf blades 2-10 mm wide, Leaf blades mostly flat, Leaf blades mostly glabrous, Ligule present, Ligule an unfringed eciliate membrane, Inflorescence terminal, Inflorescence a dense slender spike-like panicle or raceme, branches contracted, Inflorescence solitary, with 1 spike, fascicle, glomerule, head, or cluster per stem or culm, Inflorescence spike linear or cylindric, several times longer than wide, Inflorescence single raceme, fascicle or spike, Flowers bisexual, Spikelets pedicellate, Spikelets laterally compressed, Spikelet less than 3 mm wide, Spikelets with 3-7 florets, Spikelet with 1 fertile floret and 1-2 sterile florets, Spikelets solitary at rachis nodes , Spikelets all alike and fertille, Spikelets bisexual, Spikelets disarticulating above the glumes, glumes persistent, Rachilla or pedicel glabrous, Glumes present, empty bracts, Glumes 2 clearly present, Glumes equal or subequal, Glumes equal to or longer than adjacent lemma, Glume equal to or longer than spikelet, Glumes keeled or winged, Glumes 1 nerved, Glumes 3 nerved, Glumes 4-7 nerved, Lemma coriaceous, firmer or thicker in texture than the glumes, Lemma becoming indurate, enclosing palea and caryopsis, Lemma 5-7 nerved, Lemma glabrous, Lemma body or surface hairy, Lemma apex acute or acuminate, Lemma awnless, Lemma margins thin, lying flat, Lemma straight, Palea present, well developed, Palea longer than lemma, Palea 2 nerved or 2 keeled, Stamens 3, Styles 2-fid, deeply 2-branched, Stigmas 2, Fruit - caryopsis, Caryopsis ellipsoid, longitudinally grooved, hilum long-linear.

Tufted perennial. Culms up to 150 cm high, often bulbous at the base. Panicle 1.5-11 cm long, 1-2.5 cm wide, spiciform and cylindrical or occasionally lobed at the base. Glumes 4.4-7.5 mm long, acute, broadly winged, the wing margin entire; sterile floret 1, subulate, 0.2-2.2 mm long, pubescent (sometimes with a short second floret up to 0.5 mm long); fertile floret lanceolate, 3.1-4.6 mm long, light brown, densely pubescent.

This species is widely cultivated as a pasture and forage grass in many parts of the world. It is best suited to upland areas with high rainfall.

Perennial, tufted. Culms 50–150 cm tall, often bulbously thickened at base. Uppermost leaf sheaths not inflated; leaf blades 3–8 mm wide; ligule 3–7 mm. Panicle spikelike, cylindrical, 1.5–11 cm, sometimes lobed at base. Spikelets elliptic-oblong; glumes 5–7 mm, winged, wing margin entire, apex acute; sterile lemma 1(–2), subulate, 0.2–2.2 mm, pubescent, second lemma (when present) up to 0.5 mm; fertile lemma lanceolate, 3–4.6 mm, densely pubescent. Anthers 3–3.5 mm. 2n = 28.

Comments: Wet areas, ditches; <1200 m.

Introduced for grazing; Yunnan [Pakistan (introduced); N Africa, SW Asia, S Europe].

Seedbed Preparation: Good stands require a spring-summer fallow to reduce competition from annuals in fall. Fall seeding is done on a firm, weed-free seedbed prepared after the first effective rains (1.5-2.0 inches). This ensures adequate moisture to support seedling growth and destroys the first crop of volunteer annuals. If fallow is prepared before weed species produce seed, the fall weed competition is reduced, but not eliminated. Fall seeding can follow a summer clean-up crop of Sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor ssp. drummondii). Planting is accomplished directly in the Sudangrass stubble.

Method of Seeding: Best results are obtained by drilling the seed. Use of a common grain drill is possible if the seed is first mixed with rice hulls as a dilutor and the drill is properly calibrated. If seed is broadcast and covered by harrowing or dragging, the seeding rate is increased 1.5 times. Seeding depth should be ¼-1/2 inch in all cases.

Weed Control: During the establishment season, mowing may be necessary to reduce competition from annuals. Set the mower at a height compatible with regrowth of the koleagrass and other perennials. Remove as little leaf area of the koleagrass and other perennials as possible so that development will not be retarded.

Fertilization: Do not apply fertilizer in the establishment year. In the second and subsequent years, 200 pounds per acre 16-20-0 (ammonium-phosphate-sulfate) is recommended in the fall.

Fl. & Fr. Per.: June-August.

Collection Sites: world map showing specimen collection locations for Phalaris aquatica

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) Stats
                                                             

Specimen Records:	5
Specimens with Sequences:	0
Specimens with Barcodes:	0
Public Records:	0
Species:	1
Species With Barcodes:	0

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: NNA - Not Applicable

Rounded Global Status Rank: GNR - Not Yet Ranked

Reasons: Native to Mediterrean Europe and introduced to CA.

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

None

‘Perla’ Cultivar- This cultivar was introduced from Morocco. It is easy to establish, grows well during cold winter months, and produces good seed crops. Stands frequently improve through natural reseeding. Also, it’s adapted to soils with restricting layer in Mediterranean climatic zone wherever average annual rainfall is 400mm or more.

Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone book under ”United States Government.” The Natural Resources Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading “Department of Agriculture.”

Koleagrass can be grown as an annual for purposes of seed production. At the Lockeford Plant Materials Center, irrigated rows spaced 30 inches apart yield 400-600 pounds per acre of seed when harvested with a binder in late spring following fall seeding. Koleagrass seed averages 267,000 seeds per pound.

Please contact your local agricultural extension specialist or county weed specialist to learn what works best in your area and how to use it safely. Always read label and safety instructions for each control method. Trade names and control measures appear in this document only to provide specific information. USDA, NRCS does not guarantee or warranty the products and control methods named, and other products may be equally effective.

Koleagrass should not be grazed until completion of growth the first season. At the end of the green feed period, dry forage can be grazed if the plants are large enough to resist pulling by livestock. An average stubble height of three to four inches should be maintained.

Established Stands: Koleagrass starts growth in fall coincident with the first rains. Mature stands of koleagrass should be ready for grazing (6-8 inches high) by early January. The amount of growth depends on the amount of rain, its distribution, temperature and soil fertility. Cold tolerance is improved by the inclusion of phosphorus with nitrogen during fall fertilization. Grass can be grazed at range readiness without harm to the plant so long as the ground is firm and not so wet that damage from trampling might occur. Grazing should stop when fertilized annual range is ready for use or when there is a three-inch average stubble height. Grazing will normally end in late February. However, lack of moisture or poor growing conditions may require earlier termination. Infrequently, when abundant rainfall occurs in late winter, grazing can continue through mid-March. Following winter grazing, the perennials, including koleagrass, must be rested to allow recovery and re-growth. This deferment period should continue until the annual range grasses begin to dry up and lose their high feed value. By the time the annual range is dry, koleagrass will have produced seed and stored food reserves in the roots. The leaves will still be green and will remain green for about one month after the annuals are dry. This palatable forage can be grazed heavily until the average stubble height is three inches. When grazing ends, many plants will be heavily used, others partially grazed, and there will be numerous seed stalks left.

This plant may become weedy or invasive in some regions or habitats and may displace desirable vegetation if not properly managed. Please consult with your local NRCS Field Office, Cooperative Extension Service office, or state natural resource or agriculture department regarding its status and use. Weed information is also available from the PLANTS Web site. Please consult the Related Web Sites on the Plant Profile for this species for further information.

Koleagrass was developed for improvement of annual grass range. Its forage production is typically no greater than can be expected from native range. However, this perennial produces forage earlier in the season and stays green longer. Fertilized Koleagrass can extend the green feed period two months or more in the winter compared to unfertilized native grasses, and can add about one month to the green feed period in spring when moisture is not limiting. NOTE: This species has been known to have toxic effects on sheep and cattle.

Koleagrass is now considered the standard perennial grass for improvement of annual grass range in California. Please consult the Related Web Sites on the Plant Profile for further information on this species.