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Secale strictum - (C.Presl.)C.Presl.

Common Name Mountain Rye
Family Poaceae or Gramineae
USDA hardiness 3-7
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Dry stony or rocky mountain sides.
Range Europe - Mediterranean to northern Africa and western Asia.
Edibility Rating    (5 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Secale strictum Mountain Rye


Secale strictum Mountain Rye

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Secale strictum is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from June to August, and the seeds ripen from August to September. 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 and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

S. cereale montanum.

Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed
Edible Uses:

Seed - used as a whole grain or ground into a flour and used for making bread etc[46, 177, 183]. Somewhat smaller than the seed of S. cereale but produced abundantly. It is relatively difficult to extract the seed from the glumes by hand[K].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

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None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in most soils but prefers a well-drained light soil in a sunny position[1]. One report says that it requires protection from severe frosts[1], though our experience is that it is hardy in most parts of the country[K]. Mountain rye is occasionally cultivated for its edible seed[61], it is possibly a parent of the cultivated Rye, S. cereale[57]. This species has an excellent potential as a perennial cereal crop in temperate zones. Although the seed is somewhat smaller than the cultivated annual rye, it is produced abundantly, especially from the second year onwards. The plant tillers well, especially in its second and subsequent years, and the ears in selected varieties can be 25cm long[K]. Not all forms of this species are perennial, the subspecies S. strictum kuprijanovii. Gross. is reliably so[46].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Propagation

Seed - sow March or October in situ and only just cover the seed. Germination should take place within 2 weeks. If the seed is in short supply, it can be grown in pots in the greenhouse or cold frame in early spring. Only just cover the seed. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant them out in late spring or early summer. Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Secale cerealeRye, Cereal ryeAnnual1.8 3-7  LMHNM413
Secale cereale ancestraleRyeAnnual0.0 3-7  LMHNM200
Secale hybridsPerennial cereal ryePerennial1.8 3-9 FLMHNM514
Secale strictum kuprijanovii Perennial1.2 3-7  LMHNM50 
Secale sylvestre Perennial1.2 -  LMHNM30 
Secale vavilovii Annual1.2 3-7  LMHNM20 
Triticosecale sppTriticaleAnnual1.0 -  LMHNDM30 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Author

(C.Presl.)C.Presl.

Botanical References

50

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Subject : Secale strictum  
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