Skaneateles Conservation Area/Invasive species/Phalaris arundinacea

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Phalaris arundinacea
reed canary grass

<< State-regulated and other highly invasive plants at the SCA

Phalaris arundinacea (reed canarygrass)[edit | edit source]

Although floras have traditionally treated reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) as a single circumboreal (thus native) species, it now seems to be fairly-well accepted that most, if not all, reed canary grass in New York State is, to some degree, of a nonnative genotype that turns out to be highly invasive here.[1][2][3]

Identification[edit | edit source]

Reed canary grass is one of the first grasses to sprout in the spring. Dense green-to-purple flower clusters appear in May to mid-June and gradually change to a yellowish brown color. Mature height ranges from about 3 to 9 feet.[4]

  1. ↑ Andrew R. Jakubowski, Randall D. Jackson, Michael D. Casler (2014). "The History of Reed Canarygrass in North America: Persistence of Natives among Invading Eurasian Populations." Crop Science. 54(1): 210-219.
  2. ↑ Michael F. Nelson, Neil. O. Anderson, Michael. D. Casler, Andrew R. Jakubowski (2014). "Population genetic structure of N. American and European Phalaris arundinacea L. as inferred from inter-simple sequence repeat markers." Biol Invasions 16: 353–363.
  3. ↑ Troy Weldy, David Werier & Andrew Nelson (2021). "Phalaris arundinacea" New York Flora Atlas. New York Flora Association, Albany, New York.
  4. ↑ Rochelle Sturtevant, K. Dettloff & W. Conard (2021), "Phalaris arundinacea L." U.S. Geological Survey, Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL, and NOAA Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Information System, Ann Arbor, MI.

Invasiveness ranking for Phalaris arundinacea (reed canarygrass)[edit | edit source]

The New York State invasiveness ranking for reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) is high (77.78%).[1]

Phalaris arundinacea is not regulated by New York State law.[2] and has no federal designation within the United States or Canada. Its economic importance for agricultural use contributes to its unregulated status.[3]

1. Ecological impact (20/30)[edit | edit source]

1.1. Impact on Natural Ecosystem Processes and System-Wide Parameters: Influences ecosystem processes to a minor degree (3/10):

  • Reed canarygrass promotes silt deposition and consequent constriction of waterways.[4]

1.2. Impact on Natural Community Structure: Significant impact in at least one layer (7/10)

  • Can form dense, persistent, monotypic stands of creeping rhizomes in a thick sod layer (over 0.5 meters thick)[5]
  • Can facilitate Phragmites infestation within the context of hydrologic disturbance. In these dense infestations it can eliminate layers below.[6][7]

1.3. Impact on Natural Community Composition: Major alteration in community composition (10/10)

  • Can form dense, persistent, monotypic stands that exclude and displace native plant species.[8]
  • In NYS there are many occurrences of freshwater wetlands dominated by P. arundinacea with major impacts to on biodiversity, and likely associated increases in other exotic species.

1.4. Impact on other species or species groups: Unknown impact on other species or species groups (0/0)

  • Monotypic stands would probably alter native animal foraging habits.
  • The displacement of woody vegetation by reed canarygrass may reduce the number of arthropods foraging in riparian areas[8]

2. Biological characteristics and dispersal ability (21/25)[edit | edit source]

2.1. Mode and rate of reproduction: Abundant reproduction (4/4)

  • Various studies state seed produced, but not quantified
  • Abundant vegetative spread by creeping rhizomes

2.2 Innate potential for long-distance dispersal: Numerous opportunities for long-distance dispersal (4/4)

  • Seed dispersal is passive by water (hydrochory) and does form a soil seed bank
  • Seeds not adaptated for long-distance dispersal, but both rhizome fragments and seeds are dispersed via flowing water.[3]

2.3. Potential to be spread by human activities: High (3/3)

  • Long agronomic history in the U.S. with forage cultivation occurring as early as the 1830s.
  • Extensively cultivated for use as hay and for forage for livestock.
  • Used for erosion control and revegetation of disturbed sites (e.g. pipeline corridors).[3]
  • Used to mitigate nitrate pollution, road construction, ornamental plantings.
  • Indirectly spread through yard waste disposal and soil movement.

2.4. Characteristics that increase competitive advantage: Two or more characteristics that increase competitive advantage (6/6)

  • Perennial with creeping rhizomes.[8]
  • Current populations may have evolved from cultivars that were crossbred for fast growth[9]
  • High net photosynthetic rates.[10]
  • Has as a high tolerance for varying nutrient and oxygen levels, and can live in fluctuating and submerged water successfully.
  • Morphologic plasticity gives it advantages over other species.
  • Different above- and below-ground biomass production (growth) strategies are probably common within populations of reed canary grass and may be important for it to successfully invade new habitats.[11]
  • Another study (Herr-Turoff & Zedler, 2007) found Phalaris grew as a sward with intermittent and early-season flooding but shifted to tussocks under constant flooding.
  • Additional plasticity regarding histological differences between the folded and flat leaves may give Phalaris greater amplitude for invading dryer ecosystems.[12]

2.5. Growth vigor: Has climbing or smothering growth habit, forms a dense layer above shorter vegetation, forms dense thickets. (2/2)

  • Reed canarygrass can form dense, persistent, monotypic stands forming a dense layer above shorter vegetation.[8][13]

2.6. Germination/Regeneration: Can germinate/regenerate in vegetated areas but in a narrow range or in special conditions. (2/3)

  • Seeds germinate immediately after ripening with no known dormancy requirements.
  • Germination rates increase significantly with light availability.[14]

2.7. Other species in the genus invasive in New York or elsewhere: No. (0/3)

3. Ecological amplitude and distribution (/)[edit | edit source]

3.1. Density of stands in natural areas in the northeastern USA and eastern Canada:

3.2. Number of habitats the species may invade:

3.3. Role of disturbance in establishment:

3.4. Climate in native range:

3.5. Current introduced distribution in the northeastern USA and eastern Canada:

3.6. Current introduced distribution of the species in natural areas in the 8 NY PRISMs:

4. Difficulty of control (/)[edit | edit source]

4.1. Seed banks:

4.2. Vegetative regeneration:

4.3. Level of effort required:

References for invasiveness ranking[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ M.J. Jordan, G. Moore & T.W. Weldy (2008). Invasiveness ranking system for non-native plants of New York. Unpublished. The Nature Conservancy, Cold Spring Harbor, NY; Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn, NY; The Nature Conservancy, Albany, NY. Phalaris arundinacea assessed by Steve Glenn, Gerry Moore, February 5, 2009; revised March 11, 2010.
  2. ↑ New York Codes, Rules and Regulations, Title 6 Section 575.3 - Prohibited invasive species
  3. ↑ a b c Rochelle Sturtevant, K. Dettloff & W. Conard (2021), "Phalaris arundinacea L." U.S. Geological Survey, Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL, and NOAA Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Information System, Ann Arbor, MI.
  4. ↑ LH-PRISM (2021). Phalaris arundinacea (Reed Canarygrass). Lower Hudson Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management
  5. ↑ Wisconsin Reed Canary Grass Management Working Group (2009). Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea) Management Guide: Recommendations for Landowners and Restoration Professional
  6. ↑ Suzanne M. Kercher & Joy B. Zedler (2004). "Multiple disturbances accelerate invasion of reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) in a mesocosm study." Oecologia. 138: 455–464.
  7. ↑ Suzanne M. Kercher. Andrea Herr-Turoff & Joy B. Zedler (2007). "Understanding invasion as a process: the case of Phalaris arundinacea in wet prairies." Biol Invasions. 9: 657–665.
  8. ↑ a b c d Melissa A. Waggy (2010). Phalaris arundinacea in Fire Effects Information System. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory
  9. ↑ ISU Extension and Outreach (2021). "Reed Canary Grass Invasive Species Profile." Iowa State University of Science and Technology.
  10. ↑ Craig Brodersen, Sébastien Lavergne & Jane Molofsky (2008). "Genetic variation in photosynthetic characteristics among invasive and native populations of reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea). Biological Invasions 10: 1317–1325.
  11. ↑ Shannon L Morrison & Jane Molofsky (2000). "Environmental and genetic effects on the early survival and growth of the invasive grass Phalaris arundinacea." Canadian Journal of Botany 77(10):
  12. ↑ Chris Wrobel, B.E. Coulman, and D.L. Smith (2008). "An investigation into the anatomical differences between flat and folded leaves in reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.)." Canadian Journal of Plant Science. 88(2):
  13. ↑ U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (2018). "Reed Canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) Ecological Risk Screening Summary."
  14. ↑ Mandy Tu (2004). "Reed Canarygrass(Phalaris arundinacea L.) Control & Management in the Pacific Northwest." The Nature Conservancy’s Wildland Invasive Species Team.

Observations of Phalaris arundinacea (reed canarygrass) at the SCA[edit | edit source]

The following photographs and corresponding iNaturalist observations of Phalaris arundinacea were made at or very near the Skaneateles Conservation Area. Click on images to enlarge and read details on Wikimedia Commons or on the "iNat obs" links to view the corresponding observations at iNaturalist.

Management of Phalaris arundinacea (reed canarygrass) at the SCA[edit | edit source]

Reed canary grass (RCG) is a cool-season perennial grass that can easily invade sunny wet areas. Management options include burning, excavation, tree/shrub planting, grazing, mowing, herbicide application, mulching/solarization.[1]

A combination treatments would probably be most effective for typical cases. An appropriate option might be to plant trees and keep the area between them mowed, tarped or mulched until the trees become large enough to shade out the RCG. Because of the rapid growth rate of RCG during the early and late parts of the growing season, several consistent mowings would be required to keep the RCG from overtopping tree seedlings and running the risk of mowing them down.

  1. ↑ Wisconsin Reed Canary Grass Management Working Group (2009). Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea) Management Guide: Recommendations for Landowners and Restoration Professionals.
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