Mf. Merigliano et P. Lesica, THE NATIVE STATUS OF REED CANARY GRASS (PHALARIS-ARUNDINACEA L.) IN THE INLAND NORTHWEST, USA, Natural areas journal, 18(3), 1998, pp. 223-230
Reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) can be invasive in wet habi
tats and is often a target for control. There is no consensus on its n
ative status in North America; published sources treat it as either ex
otic or native. We examined the locations and habitats of early collec
tions of reed canarygrass in the inland Northwest in the context of Eu
ro-American settlement and early agronomic research. Early collectors
found P. arundinacea along streams, lake margins, springs, and meadows
. This species predates agronomic trials in the United States and was
collected in remote areas before settlement. Modern populations of ree
d canarygrass may be a mixture of agronomic cultivars and native mater
ial.