Common Name:

General Information

Leymus cinereus is a robust, clump-forming, perennial grass with short rhizomes and an extensive, deep, coarse, fibrous root system. It can grow around 100 - 200cm tall, occasionally reaching 300cm[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Western and central N. America - British Columbia to Saskatchewan, south to California, Arizona and New Mexico

Habitat

River banks, ravines, moist and dry slopes and plains[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.50 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Leymus cinereus is a very winter hardy plant and has a rather broad climatic adaptation, though it prefers cycles of wet winters and dry summers. It can be found at elevations from 600 - 2,700 metres. It grows best in areas with an average annual precipitation within the range 200 - 500mm or more[].
Succeeds in most soils, preferring a sandy soil and a sunny position[, ]. It is most common in the wild on deep soils with high water holding capacities, and is not adapted to shallow soils[]. The plant can tolerate moderate levels of salt in the soil[]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[].

Edible Uses

Seed - cooked[]. It can be ground into a flour and used to make bread.

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is well adapted to stabilizing disturbed soils[].
The plant’s drought tolerance, combined with fibrous root system and fair seedling vigour, make it desirable for reclamation in areas receiving 200 - 500mm annual precipitation. It is commonly used as a grass barrier for controlling wind erosion or blowing snowl, and has also been planted on hilly cropland as a vegetative terrace for controlling water erosion[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow mid spring in situ and only just cover the seed[]. 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[]
Division in spring or summer[]. 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.