Taxonomy
Secale cereale | Rye
Distribution
Status
Conservation status
Not protected
Native status
Neophyte
Species Biology
Habitat
Occassional, roadsides, disturbed ground and marshy ground near sand hills
Life cycle
Perennial
Ex-situ conservation
Seed accessions in the National Genebank, Backweston (traditional cultivar/landrace seed collected in 2009 & 2010). Material in the seed and genebank at Trinity College Botanic Garden Dublin (set up by Genetic Heritage Ireland).
Use
Straw
Vegetative nature
Herbaceous
Distribution
World distribution(GBIF)
Temporal change
Records submitted to Data Centre in 2025
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Further information
Rye is an important crop in the cooler parts of northern and central Europe and Russia. The plant is extremely hardy and can grow in sandy soils of low fertility. Rye is used in many countries as an animal feed. However it is also important in human nutrition. Rye is used for whiskey making in North America, gin in the Netherlands and beer in Russia. Young plants are used as fodder for livestock. The mature straw is too tough for that purpose but has its uses for bedding, thatching, papermaking and straw hats. In Ireland it is a relic of cultivation.