Contents
What is the canary grass plant?
Characteristics of canary grass (Phalaris canariensis)
Common name: Canary grass, canary seed, birdseed
 Drawing of the plant with the inflorescence, stem and leaves
Drawing of flowers and seeds |
Scientific name: Phalaris canariensis L. “Phalaris” means lustrous, “canariensis” indicates its origin from the Canary Islands.
Family: Graminae or Poaceae (grasses)
Habitat: plant native to the Canary Islands and northwest Africa; widespread throughout the western Mediterranean area. This species is cultivated as bird food (birdseed), and grows wild in most countries with warm-temperate climates.
Description of the canary grass plant
Canary grass is an annual herbaceous plant that grows as a common “weed” in temperate climates.
It is typically characterized by flowers in the form of small spikes (like other plants in the grass family, cereals), which rise through thin hollow canes measuring between 50-60 centimeters and up to 1 meter, and which constitute the stem of the plant. (a)
The leaves of the plant are lanceolate, sheathed, flat, long and narrow (narrow). (b)
The stems or canes, just like other plants in the same family, have nodes, which are a kind of structural “fibrous rings” of grasses. (c)
Each stem or cane ends in a panicle-shaped inflorescence (“spike”) of oval and compact shape, measuring 2 to 5 centimeters long by 2 or 3 centimeters wide, and which is green, sometimes slightly purple. (d)
Inside the panicle grow the seeds, which are the cereal typically used to feed domestic canaries, oblong in shape (they are longer than they are wide), small, golden-yellow in color and shiny. (e)
Composition of canary seed
Although humans use the grain and its young shoots for food, this plant stands out for the nutritional content of their grains:
- Carbohydrates: They are the major component of the grain, constituting 60% of it. Especially composed of starches or complex carbohydrates.
- Proteins: They make up approximately 20% of the grain. Canary seed is deficient in the essential amino acid lysine (like all cereals). Its glutamic acid content is stands out.
- Fats: Canary seed is low in fat, and the fats it contains are of high quality.
- Fiber: The fiber content of canary seed grain is 7g per 100g of grain, with insoluble fiber predominating.
- Vitamins: Like all cereals, it contains B vitamins, specifically vitamin B1 or thiamine, and vitamin B3 or niacin. These are optimal for the absorption of carbohydrates – present in the grain itself; and important for the nervous system.
What is canary seed used for?
Canary seed has nutritional and medicinal properties.
How is canary seed consumed?
From a nutritional point of view, it is mainly used for animal feed, although it is also suitable for human consumption.
From a medicinal point of view, canary seed is used for various purposes: to lose loss, for digestive problems or as a diuretic.
Nutritional composition of canary seed
Nutrient | Content |
Calories (Kcal) | 399 |
Carbohydrates (g) | 60,93 |
of which complexes (g) | 50,92 |
Proteins (g) | 21,67 |
Fat (g) | 5,59 |
of which saturated (g) | 0,76 |
of which monounsaturated (g) | 1,84 |
of which polyunsaturated (g) | 3,09 |
Fiber (g) | 7,62 |
of which insoluble (g) | 7,31 |
Vitamin B1 o thiamin (mg) | 0,65 |
1,2 | |
Calcium (mg) | 29 |
Magnesium (mg) | 196 |
Phosphorus (mg) | 583 |
Potassium (mg) | 363 |
Zinc (mg) | 3,3 |
Manganese (mg) | 5,2 |
More information on canary seed
