Leymus condensatus
| Leymus condensatus | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 7 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 7' |
| Blooms: | Late Spring-Mid Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Leymus condensatus (common name: giant wild rye)
Propagation: Seed - sow mid spring in situ and only just cover the seed[1]. Germination should take place within 2 weeks.
If the supply of seed is limited, it can also be sown in mid spring in a cold frame. Only just cover the seed. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in summer[K]
Division in spring or summer[1]. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.
Cultivation: Succeeds in most soils, preferring a sandy soil and a sunny position[2][1]. Established plants are drought resistant[3]. Plants are tolerant of saline and alkaline soils[3].
A very variable species[2], it is possibly suitable for cultivation as a perennial cereal[4].
Range: Western N. America - Alberta to British Columbia, south to Nebraska, Arizona and California.
Habitat: Dunes by the coast, dry plains and slopes[5]. Also found in damp alkaline soils near streams[4].
Edibility: Seed - cooked[6][7][8][9]. It can be ground into a flour and used to make bread[3][4][10]. The seed is rather small and rather difficult to extract[K].
Medicinal: A decoction or an herbal infusion of the leaves has been used as a wash for sore eyes[11].
The dried leaves have been used to scrape pimples from the underside of the eyelid[11].
Usage: The leaves are used for making mats, rope, paper etc.
The stems are used for thatching roofs etc[11].
The roots can be tied together and used as a hair comb[11].
Pollinators: Wind
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure
Seed Ripens: Early Fall-Mid Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: Leymus condensatus.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Grounds, Roger. Ornamental Grasses. Christopher Helm, 1989.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Saunders, Charles. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications, 1976.
- ↑ Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
- ↑ Douglas, James. Alternative Foods.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Yanovsky, Elias. Food Plants of the North American Indians Publication 237. US Department of Agriculture.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.