Agrostis perennans
Upland Bent
a perennial member of the Agrostis genus in the family Gramineae.
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed[2][3]. No further details are given, though it is probably used as a cereal[K]. The seed is very small, its collection and utilization would be very fiddly[K].
- Plant part
- Seed
Environment
- Range
- Eastern N. America - Quebec to Minnesota and south to Florida and Texas.
- Habitat
- Open woods, thickets, rocky banks and dryish open soil[5].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow outdoors in a seedbed in spring and only just cover the seed[1]. It usually germinates in 2 - 3 weeks so long as the soil does not dry out.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
We have very little information on the needs of this plant, and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain. Judging by its native range, however, it is likely to succeed in most areas of this country. Growing in a variety of habitats in the wild, though usually in dry soils, it is likely to be quite adaptable here so long as the ground is well-drained[K]. This is a very variable plant in the wild, it is erect and rather stout when growing in dry open ground, but weak with a lax panicle when growing in the shade[4].
References
Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. 1987-00-00
Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Hitchcock. A. S. Manual of the Grasses of the United States Dover Publications. New York. 1971-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22717-0
Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00