REED CANARYGRASS:  Phalaris arundinacea

	Reed canarygrass is a tall, wide-leafed, sod-forming, perennial cool-season grass.  It spreads underground by short, scaly rhizomes and forms a dense sod in well-managed pure stands.  Individual plants exhibit considerable difference in agronomic characteristics, suggesting that there is much potential for selection of improved cultivars.
	The lack of palatability or of selection by livestock when a choice is presented, is why this extraordinary grass has not become a leading forage in its area of adaptation.  Reed canarygrass is one of the highest yielding perennial grasses available for grazing or haying.
	Especially well adapted to wet, marshy land; Reed canarygrass is very tolerant of flooding.  It will also grow on upland soils and shows considerable resistance to drought.  It produces lush growth from early spring through summer, but produces little growth in fall and winter.
	Reed canarygrass develops a sod sufficiently firm to support livestock even on wet land.  Likewise, farm machinery is supported on sod in areas that would be impassable before the establishment of Reed canarygrass.
	In Kansas, Reed canarygrass is best adapted to the northern 1/3 of the state.  However, it has been successfully utilized throughout the state.