Scientific Name:
Hordeum vulgare
Pronunciation:
HOR-dee-um vul-GAIR-ee
Common Name:
barley
Family Name:
Poaceae
Plant Type:
Annual (true)
Key ID Features:
Culms 80-100(-150)cm tall, nodes glabrous; leaf blades up to 25cm long x 1.5cm wide, lower sheath with soft hairs, upper sheaths glabrous; spikes 5-10cm long x 0.8-2cm wide, green to purplish or blackish; nodes 10-30, with 3 spikelets per node, 0-2 lateral spikelets, in addition to the central spikelets, forming seed at maturity (resulting in 2-, 4-, and 6-rowed barley); grains usually with awls 3-18cm long. Flora of North America
Habit:
Upright
Form:
Columnar
Texture:
Medium - fine
Mature Height:
0.7 - 1.3m
Mature Spread:
0.1 - 0.3m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Central / west Asia
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 3: (-40 to -34 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil/Growing Medium:
Alkaline, Well-drained
Landscape Uses:
Urban agriculture
Additional Info:
Google. Compare to H. jubatum (fox-tail barley - invasive).
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Parallel venation
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Colour in Fall:
Brown
Shapes:
Linear
Apices:
Acuminate, Acute
Bases:
Sheathing
Margins:
Entire
Inflorescence Type:
Spikelet, Spike-like
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
0
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Not showy, Yellow, Green
Flower Scent:
None
Flower Time at Peak:
Mar, Apr
Fruit Type:
Edible, Grain (caryopsis)
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Aug, Sep
Additional Info:
Showy, Edible
Bark or Stem Colour:
Green
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
Rust
