Participant Info

Species

Phalaris arundinacea [Phalaroides arundinacea] [Arundo colorata] [Baldingera arundinacea] etc.

Family

Poaceae

CommonName

reed canary grass, ribbon grass, gardener's garters

Presence

yes

Status

native, noxious

EarliestDate

1985

LatestDate

2012

Ecosystem

basin, montane

Geobotanical

Garitas, SSanjuans, NCristos, UBasin

Counties

Hinsdale, Rio Grande, Saguache

Passes

WildlifePreserves

Other Localities

PhotoRecords

Comments

NEED IN SITU PHOTOS. So far reed canary grass has been vouchered from three locations in the Watershed: in San Luis Creek three miles southeast of Villa Grove (Saguache Co, 1997), by a stream in woodlands 1.5 air miles southwest of South Fork (Rio Grande Co, 2003), and at the junction of Beaver Creek and Cross Creek southwest of South Fork (Rio Grande Co, 2012). Phalaris arundinacea has vigorous rhizomes and disperses also by seed, and is often considered invasive and noxious. The high-desert climate of the Watershed may inhibit its spread there. It is present in all USA states except for those of the Deep South. It follows the Rio Grande drainage only through two northern counties of New Mexico. Note that P. arundinacea has psychedelic compounds (such as Hordenine) and can be used to make ayahuasca, a brew still being imbibed, for instance, in spiritual retreats in Colorado to promote "self discovery and awakening."

Annotation