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Common Name: June Grass

General Information

Koeleria macrantha is a perennial plant that can grow up to 0.50 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Northern temperate zone, including Britain, between latitudes 37° and 60° north.

Habitat

Sandy places, chalk and limestone pastures[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.50 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

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[].

Edible Uses

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

Medicinal

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

Other Uses

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[].

Propagation

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