Achnatherum hymenoides
| Achnatherum hymenoides | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Late Spring-Mid Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
Achnatherum hymenoides (common name: indian millet)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in situ[1].
We have had better results from sowing the seed in a greenhouse. Only just cover the seed and it should germinate freely within 2 weeks. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in early summer[K].
Division in spring. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.
Cultivation: Succeeds in any moderately fertile moisture retentive soil in full sun[1].
This species is unlikely to tolerate temperatures lower than about -5°c, and so will only be suitable for the milder areas of the country[2].
Currently (1992) being tested for its potential as a perennial cereal for sandy soils in dry regions[3].
Range: Western N. America - British Columbia to Manitoba, south to Texas, California and Mexico.
Habitat: Sandy prairies and rocky slopes[4].
Edibility: Seed - raw, cooked or ground into a meal and used in making bread etc, gruel and as a thickener in soups[5][6][7][8][3]. The seed is rather small but when fully ripe it falls readily from the plant and is fairly easy to harvest[3]. Another report says that the seed is rather large[3], but this has not been our experience[K]. The seeds were parched over the flames of a fire in order to remove the hairs[2]. A pleasant taste and very nutritious[7][3], it contains about 6% sugars and 20% starch[2]. Before corn was introduced to the area, this seed was at one time a staple food for some native North American Indian tribes[2].
Pollinators: Wind
Notes: Also consider O. asperifolia.
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates strong winds
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: O. cuspidata. O. membranacea. Stipa hymenoides. S. membranacea.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Weiner, Michael. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books, 1980.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Harrington, Harold. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press, 1967.
- ↑ Coon, Nelson. The Dictionary of Useful Plants. Rodale Press, 1975.