Phleum (common name timothy) is a genus of annual and perennial plants in the grass family.[4] The genus is native to Europe, Asia and north Africa, with one species (P. alpinum) also in North and South America.[5]

Phleum
Phleum pratense
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Pooideae
Supertribe: Poodae
Tribe: Poeae
Subtribe: Phleinae
Dumort.
Genus: Phleum
L.
Type species
Phleum pratense
Synonyms[3]
  • Stelephuros Adans.
  • Plantinia Bubani
  • Achnodonton P.Beauv.
  • Chilochloa P.Beauv.
  • Achnodon Link
  • Maillea Parl.
  • Pseudophleum Dogan

They are tufted grasses growing to 20–150 cm tall, with cylindrical, spike-like panicles containing many densely packed spikelets.[6]

Species[3][7][8][9]
formerly included[3]

numerous species now considered better suited to other genera: Aegilops Alopecurus Beckmannia Crypsis Cynodon Cynosurus Digitaria Elytrophorus Ischaemum Mnesithea Muhlenbergia Pennisetum Pentameris Phalaris Polypogon Polytrias Sesleria Tribolium

Cultivation and uses edit

Several species are important for cattle feed and as hay for horses and other domestic animals.[10]

References edit

  1. ^ lectotype designated by Hitchcock, Prop. Brit. Bot.: 119. 1929
  2. ^ "Tropicos - Name - Phleum L." www.tropicos.org.
  3. ^ a b c "Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families". kew.org.
  4. ^ Linnaeus, Carl von. 1753. Species Plantarum 1: 59-60 in Latin
  5. ^ Germplasm Resources Information Network: Phleum
  6. ^ "Phleum in Flora of China @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
  7. ^ "Search results — The Plant List". www.theplantlist.org.
  8. ^ Altervista Flora Italiana genere Phleum photos and distribution maps for several species
  9. ^ "Flora Europaea Search Results". rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
  10. ^ "Plants Profile for Phleum (timothy)". www.plants.usda.gov. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2018-10-15.