*5.3.2. General species description*

Reed canarygrass is a tall, coarse, and erect grass with a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which reaches a canopy height of up to 300 cm. This grass has vigorous rhizomes that form 1 cm thick and short branches and a root system that reaches to more than 3 m [74].

Its inflorescence is a narrow and compressed panicle. The leaves are wide and flat with prominent nodes. The stems are robust, smooth, and occasionally branching at the nodes. Its ligules are membrane-shaped and obtuse and have a pointed-folded tip. Seeds are shiny brown. The seed production of the species is unreliable due to the seed shattering and occasionally the production of deficient panicles [11]. The presence of several types and concentrations of poisonous alkaloids has restricted the use of reed canarygrass as a forage crop [75]. The estimated life time of a reed canarygrass plantation is approximately 10 years [76].
