phalaris minor
{{short description|Species of plant}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Phalaris minor.jpg
| genus = Phalaris
| species = minor
| authority = Retz.
}}
Phalaris minor is a species of grass native to North Africa, Europe, and South Asia.{{GRIN | name = Phalaris minor Retz. | id = 27523}} The bunchgrass is widely naturalised elsewhere.
Common names include little seed canary grass, small-seeded canary grass, small canary grass,{{cite web | title = Sorting Phalaris names | work = Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database | url = http://www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au/Sorting/Phalaris.html#minor | accessdate = 2009-01-08}} lesser-canary grass,{{BSBI 2007 |accessdate=2014-10-17 }} guli danda (Hindi), and sittee booti (Urdu).[http://idao.cirad.fr/content/oscar/especes/p/phami/phami.html Phalaris minor.] IDAO.
Description
Phalaris minor grows as a tufted annual bunchgrass up to {{convert|1.8|m|ft}} in height. It has a spike-like panicle.{{NSW Flora Online | genus = Phalaris | species = minor | author = Retz.}}
Taxonomy
It has had an uneventful taxonomic history. It was first published under its current name by Anders Jahan Retzius in 1783, and has retained that name since. It has no synonyms, and no infraspecific taxa.{{APNI | name = Phalaris minor Retz. | id = 11971}}
Uses
It is used as a fodder or forage for livestock and birdseed, but is poisonous to some mammals, and is a potential contaminant of seed crops.