Creeping mannagrass
Glyceria acutiflora
Family: Poaceae or Gramineae
What it is like
Glyceria acutiflora is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft). 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. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers wet soil and can grow in water.
Height (m): 0.6
Where it is found
Ponds and paddy fields in C. and S. Japan.
E. Asia - China, Japan. Eastern N. America.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 1
Seed - cooked. Ground into a flour and used as a cereal. An emergency food, used when all else fails. The seed is very small and fiddly to harvest.
Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating:
How it is grown
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain. It will require wet conditions or shallow water.
Propagating it: Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse in a pot standing in 3 - 5cm of water. Surface sow the seed, or only just cover it. Germination should take place within 3 weeks. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in early summer. Division in spring. 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.
Best place to grow: Pond; Bog Garden;
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: 0-0
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Wet, water