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Koeleria macrantha - (Ledeb.)Schult.

Common Name June Grass, Prairie Junegrass
Family Poaceae or Gramineae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Sandy places, chalk and limestone pastures[17].
Range Northern temperate zone, including Britain, between latitudes 37° and 60° N.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Koeleria macrantha June Grass, Prairie Junegrass


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Sten
Koeleria macrantha June Grass, Prairie Junegrass

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Koeleria macrantha is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 2. It is in flower from June to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

K. cristata. K. gracilis. K. pyramidata. Aira cristata.

Plant Habitats

 Meadow; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed
Edible Uses:

Seed - cooked. It is ground into a powder and eaten like porridge or used as a flour for making bread etc[105, 161, 177, 257].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Styptic

The plant has been used in the treatment of cuts[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Broom  Brush

The leaf blades of the plant have been tied together and used as paintbrushes and brooms[257]. Bunches of the leaf blades, about 30cm long, have been tied with string or yucca fibre, and used as a scourer for cleaning pans etc[257]. The straw has been mixed with adobe to give strength and adhesion when building walls[257].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in most soils in a sunny position[1, 200]. Prefers a chalky soil[1]. Grows best in a soil that is not too fertile[200]. This is an aggregate species[50]. K. cristata is now divided into K. macrantha (which is also the name of the aggregate) and K. pyramidata (Lam.)Beauv. K. macrantha is native to Britain, K. pyramidata, which is found wild in meadows and wood margins, is native to much of mainland Europe[50].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ and only just cover the seed[162]. Germination should take place within three weeks. Division in spring[162].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia (Ciscaucasia), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation (Dagestan), Russian Federation-Western Siberia (Western Siberia), Russian Federation-Eastern Siberia (Eastern Siberia), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Russian Federation-Far East (Far East (south)), China (Anhui Sheng, Fujian Sheng, Hebei Sheng, Heilongjiang Sheng, Henan Sheng, Hubei Sheng, Nei Mongol Zizhiqu, Ningxia Huizi Zizhiqu, Qinghai Sheng, Shaanxi Sheng, Shandong Sheng, Sichuan Sheng, Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu, Xizang Zizhiqu, Zhejiang Sheng), Korea, Japan (Hokkaidô, Honshu) TROPICAL ASIA: India (northwest), Nepal, Pakistan NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Northwest Territories, Yukon, Québec, Ontario (south), Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia), United States (Alaska, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Arkansas, Delaware, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Mexico, Texas (n. & w.), Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah), Mexico (Coahuila de Zaragoza, Nuevo León, Sonora) EUROPE: United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Ukraine (incl. Krym), Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain (incl. Baleares), France AFRICA: Morocco

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(Ledeb.)Schult.

Botanical References

17200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Stefan Luketa   Mon Dec 1 2008

BioNet škola On this website there is a complete description of this taxon.

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