phalaris
/ˈfalərɪs/noun
Originally: canary grass (Phalaris canariensis). Later: (in form Phalaris) a genus of annual and perennial grasses native to temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, having flat leaves and compact panicles of one-flowered spikelets; (also phalaris) any grass of this genus, especially P. canariensis, P. arundinacea (reed canary grass or gardener's garters), and ( Agriculture ) P. aquatica, used as a drought-resistant forage grass, especially in Australia.
- Valid publication of the genus name: Linnaeus Species Plantarum (1753) I. 54..
Origin
Mid 16th century; earliest use found in William Turner (d. 1568), naturalist and religious controversialist. From classical Latin phalāris (also phalēris) canary grass or a similar grass from Hellenistic Greek ϕαλᾱρίς (Attic-Ionic ϕαληρίς) from Byzantine Greek (Doric) ϕαλᾱρός (compare Hellenistic Greek (Doric) ϕάλᾱρος, (Attic-Ionic) ϕάληρος) white, having a patch of white + -ις.