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Common Name: Timothy

General Information

Phleum pratense is a perennial plant that can grow up to 1.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials..

Known Hazards

Two allergens producing strong skin reactions and a haemaglutinating action have been isolated from timothy pollen. The pollen contains several flavonol-glycosides, among them dactylin (isorhamnetin-31,4-diglucoside)[].

Botanical References

,

Range

Britain.

Habitat

Common in meadows throughout Britain, though rare in the north[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

An easily grown plant, it succeeds in a sunny position in any ordinary soil[]. The plant is not drought tolerant[]. Timothy grass is reported to tolerate an annual precipitation in the range of 35 to 176cm, an annual temperature range of 4.4 to 18.6°C, and a pH of 4.5 to 7.8[]. The plant is best adapted to a cool, humid, temperate climate, growing best on rather heavy, deep and moist or even wet soils[]. Yields are lower on light dry soils and sands[]. The optimum temperature for growth is 18.3° - 21.6°C varying with day/night temperatures of 15°/10°C and 21°/15°C[].
Timothy grass is a very variable species that is commonly grown as a hay grass. Several named forms have been develped[, ]. A short-lived perennial it is a common cause of hayfever[].
An attractive addition to the wild flower meadow, the inflorescence dries and dyes well so is used in dried flower displays[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Stored sterile timothy extracts arrested the growth of Sarcoma 45 and other tumour types[].

Other Uses

The stems have been used to make hair brushes[].
The plant can yield up to 15 tonnes of plant material per hectare and is a potential source of biomass[].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ, only just covering the seed. If seed is in short supply, it can be surface sown in a pot in a cold frame. Ensure the pot does not dry out. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant out in the summer.
Division in spring.