Koeleria macrantha - June Grass

Family:	Gramineae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.5
Synonyms:	K. cristata. K. gracilis. K. pyramidata. Aira cristata.
Range:	Northern temperate zone, including Britain, between latitudes 37° and 60° N.

Koeleria macrantha (June Grass) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.5m . It has a hardness rating of 2.
June Grass will flower in December to January. The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Wind

Soil Information

June Grass will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is / is important for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
June Grass prefers moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

June Grass can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Sandy places, chalk and limestone pastures[17].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Can be planted in Cultivated Beds
• Suits a meadow

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in most soils in a sunny position[1, 200]. Prefers a chalky soil[1]. Grows best in a soil that is not too fertile[200]. This is an aggregate species[50]. 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[50].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 1/5
Seed - cooked. It is ground into a powder and eaten like porridge or used as a flour for making bread etc[105, 161, 177, 257].

• Seed - includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
The plant has been used in the treatment of cuts[257].

• Styptic - An astringent that stops bleeding by contracting the blood vessels.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ and only just cover the seed[162]. Germination should take place within three weeks. Division in spring[162].

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

The leaf blades of the plant have been tied together and used as paintbrushes and brooms[257]. 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[257]. The straw has been mixed with adobe to give strength and adhesion when building walls[257].

• Broom - Used for sweeping the floor etc.
• Brush - Used for cleaning clothes, as a paintbrush etc.

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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