Reed Canary-grass - Phalaris arundinacea

A tall grass to 200 cm, stout and smooth stemmed, reed-like. Forms dense stands by means of creeping rhizomes. Panicles 5 to 25 cm long, spikelets sometimes flushed purple.

The panicle is branched. Each spikelet contains only one fertile floret usually completely enclosed by its glumes. Many leaves are more than 1cm wide. Often growing by water

Damp places, ditches, beside water etc.

June to August.

Perennial.

Widespread and common throughout Britain.

Common in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 491 of the 617 tetrads.