Canary Grass

Chambers's Encyclopaedia, Volume 2: Beaugency to Cataract, p. 702
A botanical illustration of Canary Grass (Phalaris canariensis). It shows a cluster of three upright, slender stems with small, pointed seed heads at the top. To the right, there is a separate, larger, more detailed illustration of a single seed head, showing its dense, cylindrical structure and the individual seeds or florets.
A botanical illustration of Canary Grass (Phalaris canariensis). It shows a cluster of three upright, slender stems with small, pointed seed heads at the top. To the right, there is a separate, larger, more detailed illustration of a single seed head, showing its dense, cylindrical structure and the individual seeds or florets.

Canary Grass (Phalaris canariensis), a grass of which the seed is much used, under the name of canary-seed, as food for cage-birds, and which is on that account cultivated to some extent in the south of Europe, and in certain districts of Germany and England. It has become naturalised in many parts of Northern Europe, including Britain, but is a native of Southern Europe and the Canaries, where it sometimes furnishes a wholesome and palatable addition to or substitute for wheat flour. It is largely grown for seed in Southern California. The large Reed Canary Grass (P. arundinacea), common on river banks, is an abundant source of coarse fodder. A striped variegated variety is cultivated as 'gardeners' garters,' 'ribbon grass,' or 'ladies' traces.'

Source scan(s): p. 0717