Relatives

Hordeum spontaneum C. Koch - Wild barley.

Taxonomical position.

Family Poaceae Benth., genera Hordeum L.

Morphology and biology:

Annual cereal. Stalks are 30-70 (100) cm tall, thick, direct. Leaves flat, narrowly linear, with two crescent lobes at the base covering the stalk. Spike slightly compressed, in double rows, 5-9 cm in length without awns, with fragile, densely tomentous axis. Spikelet scales linear-subulate, densely pubescent, with an edge 15-17 mm in length. The bottom floral scales of the medium fertile flower are widely elliptical, bare, with awn 7-15 cm in length. Blossoms in April-June. Anemophilous. 2n=14.

Distribution:

Occurs throughout the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean, Asia Minor, Iran, and the Himalayas.

Ecology:

Occurs on stony and small-grained slopes, on taluses, among pebbles, and among bushes. Frequently occurs as a weed plant in crops of barley.

Use and economic value:

None.

Reference citations:

Grossgeim, A.A. 1939. Flora of Caucasus. Vol. 2. Polypodiaceae-Gramineae. Baku: Publishing house AzFaN, 587 pp.
Tzvelev N.N. 1976. Grasses of the USSR. Leningrad: Nauka, 788 pp.

© L.L. Malyshev

 

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