Gramineae

Secale strictum (C.Presl) C. Presl subsp. Africanum (Stapf) K. Hammer

Wild rye

Pooideae; Triticodae

There are 5 species of Secale found in the Mediterranean and from eastern Europe to central Asia with a single species found only in South Africa and endemic to that country. Secale africanum is reported to have been abundant in earlier times, its former distribution area being named the "Roggeveld" (rye land) after the plant. It is thought that the introduction of commercial rye species, amongst other factors, has caused the reduction of its distribution to small, rare patches on a single farm in the Sutherland District of the Western Province of South Africa, which is in the Nama-Karoo Biome. However it has not been found for many years by various people who have searched for it. It is in danger of becoming extinct, and as such, has been assessed as Critically Endangered according to IUCN 3.1 (Victor in progress).

A loosely tufted perennial grass that grows to a height of 1,000 mm tall. The leaf blades are 200-350 mm long, 4-9 mm wide. The ligule is an unfringed membrane. The inflorescence is a single spike 80-120 mm long, linear, very dense, laterally compressed and distichous and the rachis is fringed with short hairs and breaks up at maturity. The spikelet-bearing axes disarticulate at the joints, unlike cultivated rye that does not disarticulate. The spikelets are solitary, distichous and 10-15 mm long. Spikelets are compressed laterally, falling with the glumes. Two unequal glumes that are shorter than the lemmas. The glumes are awned. The lemmas are less firm than the glumes, 5-nerved, entire and the lemma keel is minutely hairy with an awn up to 20 mm long and a scabrid surface.
Secale africanum is distinguished from cultivated rye (S. cereale) by the cultivated species being an annual, having a smooth-surfaced lemma with the keel fringed with stiff hairs, awns up to 50 mm long and a rachis that does not break up at maturity.

A relatively good potential natural pasture species and is liked by birds as well as stock.

Chromosome base number, x = 7

C₃ photosynthetic pathway

None reported and is considered to be edible.

Found in undisturbed places on riverbanks.

Undisturbed soil on riverbanks.

S. africanum is not propagated in South Africa, but other members of the genus are widely cultivated throughout the world.

Summer growing species that flowers in December despite occurring on the boundary of a winter rainfall region.

None known

Unknown

Gibbs-Russell, G.E., Watson, L., Koekemoer, M., Smook, L. Barker, N.P., Anderson, H.M., Dallwitz, M.J. 1989. Grasses of southern Africa. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa, No. 58, National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.

Victor, J.E., Fish, L.F. & Ellis, R.P. 2003. Red List of South African Poaceae. National Botanical Institute, project in progress.