G73 

 BARLEYS 



Hor'deum spp. 



The barleys are annual, biennial, or perennial bunchgrasses 

 with dense, bearded or bristly heads (spikes). The fact that the 

 axis (rachis) of the spike is jointed and readily breaks apart at the 

 joints at maturity or on drying is almost a unique feature, the 

 squirrel tails (Sitanion spp.) and a few species of wheatgrasses 

 (Agropyron spp.) being the only others among the common western 

 range grasses with similar characteristics. 



Hordeum is the ancient Latin name for barley (H. wulgaare), 

 which is the most important member of the genus and has been 

 cultivated since prehistoric times. It is the most important cereal 

 of northern countries and is extensively used for food where other 

 grains are not sufficiently hardy. However, it is chiefly important 

 as a livestock feed and for brewing beer. Pearl barley (H. aegi- 

 ceras) is another member of the genus which is also cultivated. 

 None of the native western species have been domesticated. Foxtail 

 barley (H. jubatum) is a considerable detriment to western agri- 

 culture, as it is a weed species occurring in considerable abundance 

 in hay and grain fields. The grain of this species is used for food 

 by the Shoshone Indians of Oregon. 



In the West, Hordeum is represented by eight indigenous species, 

 most of which are perennials. In addition, five annual species have 

 been naturalized, including common barley and pearl barley some- 

 times seen on the range as volunteers from cultivated fields. The 

 introduced species are more common on the Pacific coast. Barleys 

 in the West extend from lower elevations to well up into the spruce 

 belt. Generally they prefer open sites such as meadows, grasslands, 

 and parks, although some species appear in brush types and in 

 woodlands. Several species are widely distributed, but as a rule 

 are found in local patches and are not generally scattered over the 

 range. Foxtail barley, however, is not only widely distributed but 

 occurs in abundance. 



The native barleys are fair to fairly good forage for all classes of 

 livestock for spring and early summer, but are little grazed after the 

 heads are well developed. Some species resume growth when the 

 fall rains begin, and as they green up considerably and the trouble- 

 some heads have then largely disappeared, are important as fall and 

 winter forage. On the whole, however, the barleys are distinctly 

 inferior range grasses. 



Individual flower groups (spikelets) in the native western species 

 are one-flowered, occur in groups of three at each joint of the rachis, 

 the center one being stalkless and seed producing, the lateral ones on 

 short stalks and usually not seed producing. The lowest (2) spikelet 

 bracts (glumes) are bristlelike, and the outer flower bract (lemma) 

 is usually awned in the fertile floret, and in the sterile spikelet often 

 reduced to a bristle. 



