Rye
Secale cereale

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

An annual plant. It is a cereal grass. It grows to 60-200 cm high. It spreads to 30 cm across. It produces tufts. The stem is erect and bluish green. The leaves are rough and narrow. They are 30 cm long and 8 mm wide. The leaves are smooth on the lower surface. The flowers are dense, slender spikelets. They are 20 cm long. The spikelets are 2-flowered and strongly awned.

There are 6-8 Secale species.

Where it is found

A temperate plant. It needs an open sunny position. It is resistant to frost but damaged by drought. It produces well in areas with cold winters and hot dry summers. It has value in cold places. It can grow in poorer soils. It germinates are 4-5°C. Seedlings can endure frost. The average temperature should not exceed 20°C when grain is being produced.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Balkans, Belarus, Canada, Caucasus, Central Asia, Chile, China, Czech Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Europe, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malawi, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, Mozambique, Netherlands, North Africa, North America, Norway, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Russia, Scandinavia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, USSR

How it is used for food

The seeds are used for flour. It does not have enough gluten to make bread that will rise well. Rye flour is the substrate of the leaven for sourdough bread. The flour can be used for pasta. They are also used for making whiskey. The seeds are used for breakfast cereals and the flour in bread. Sprouted seeds are used in salads. Roasted grains are used as a coffee substitute. CAUTION: It can get infected with a fungus called eergot which is poisonous.

It has occasionally been planted in trials in Papua New Guinea. It is a cultivated food plant.

Edible parts

Seeds, cereal, sprouts, seeds - coffee

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. It is mostly wind pollinated.

Its other names

Local names

Ashora, Centeno, Gandum hitam, Maanash, Mukhudo, Roggen, Rukis, Ryecorn, Segale, Seigle

Synonyms

Secale cereale cv. multicaule Metzg. ex Alef.; Secale cereale var. viride Vavilov; Secale cereale var. vulgare Korn. & H. Werner;