Koeleria macrantha - (Ledeb.)Schult.
(Ledeb.)Schult.
June Grass, Prairie Junegrass
gbif· cc-by
Stanislav Murashkin
gbif· cc-by
Stanislav Murashkin
gbif· cc-by
Stanislav Murashkin
Description
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.
Edible Uses
Seed - cooked. It is ground into a powder and eaten like porridge or used as a flour for making bread etc.
Medicinal Uses
Styptic. The plant has been used in the treatment of cuts.
Distribution
Northern temperate zone, including Britain, between latitudes 37° and 60° N.
Where It Grows
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
Cultivation
Succeeds in most soils in a sunny position. Prefers a chalky soil. Grows best in a soil that is not too fertile. This is an aggregate species. 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.
Propagation
Seed - sow spring in situ and only just cover the seed. Germination should take place within three weeks. Division in spring.
Other Uses
Broom Brush. The leaf blades of the plant have been tied together and used as paintbrushes and brooms. 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. The straw has been mixed with adobe to give strength and adhesion when building walls.
