Agrostis perennans

(Walter) Tuckerm.

Upland bent, Thin Grass, Upland Bentgrass

Poaceae Edible: Seeds, Cereal 1,432 iNaturalist observations

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iNaturalist· cc-by

Summary

Agrostis perennans, the upland bentgrass, upland bent, or autumn bent, is a species of flowering plant in the grass family, Poaceae.

Description

A perennial grass which grows up to 90 cm tall. The leaves are long and narrow. They are 6-15 cm long by 2-4 mm wide. The seeds are about 1 mm long.

Edible Uses

The seeds are edible and are likely used as a cereal, though no further details are recorded. The seeds are very small, making collection and use a fiddly process.

Traditional Uses

The seed has been recorded as eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows naturally in dryish open soil in Eastern North America from Quebec to Minnesota and south to Florida and Texas. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 4,000 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Argentina, Canada, Chile, North America, South America, USA,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed. Seed germinates in 2-3 weeks. It is important that the soil does not dry out during germination.

Propagation

Sow seed outdoors in a seedbed in spring, barely covering it. Germination usually occurs within 2–3 weeks as long as the soil is kept from drying out.