Perennial cereal rye
Secale hybrids

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

Secale hybrids is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.8 m (6ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3. 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.

Height (m): 1.8

Where it is found

Hybrid

Origin: recent hybrid origin.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Under development. Climates are typicallly boreal to warm temperate, Mediterranean.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 5

Carbon Farming Solutions - Staple Crop: balanced carb (The term staple crop typically refers to a food that is eaten routinely and accounts for a dominant part of people's diets in a particular region of the world). A minor or regional perennial crop in production with low or unreported yields . Perennial hybrids are now under development. Wild perennial species found in Turkey, for example, Secale monatum Guss var. anatolicum Boiss and Secale montanum Guss var. vavilovi Grossh. have a larger stature, high frost resistance, strong tillering ability, and tolerance to poor soils and drought. Understanding wild plant species is becoming important in the development of new hybrid crops.

Oil: Oil

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicine

Rating: 1

Possible. For example Secale cereale seed is made into a poultice and applied to tumours. The seed is also an effective laxative due to its fibrous seed coat.

Other

Rating: 4

Many including Biomass; Green manure; Oil; Soil stabilization; and Thatching.

Oil: Vegetable oils have many uses, as lubricants, lighting, soap and paint making, waterproofing etc. This does not include the edible oils unless they are also mentioned as having other uses.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Staple Crop: Balanced carb: (0-15 percent protein, 0-15 percent oil, with at least one over 5 percent). The carbohydrates are from either starch or sugar. Annuals include maize, wheat, rice, and potato. Perennials include chestnuts, carob, perennial fruits, nuts, cereals, pseudocereals, woody pods, and acorns.

Under Development: Plant breeders are actively working to domesticate these plants for cultivation, but they are not yet commercially available as crops. Examples include most of the perennial cereal grains.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Staple Crop: Balanced carb: (0-15 percent protein, 0-15 percent oil, with at least one over 5 percent). The carbohydrates are from either starch or sugar. Annuals include maize, wheat, rice, and potato. Perennials include chestnuts, carob, perennial fruits, nuts, cereals, pseudocereals, woody pods, and acorns.

Under Development: Plant breeders are actively working to domesticate these plants for cultivation, but they are not yet commercially available as crops. Examples include most of the perennial cereal grains.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

How it is grown

Climate: boreal to warm temperate, Mediterranean. Humidity: semi-arid to humid. Carbon Farming Solutions - Cultivation: under development perennial hybrids. Management: standard (Describes the non-destructive management systems that are used in cultivation).

Propagating it: Seed. Division.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 3-9

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Secale Cereale, Rye, Rye hybids, Secale hybrids. Perennial rye, Perennial secale

Synonyms

See individual species/hybrids.