Common name: Northern Barley Grass
Hordeum glaucum Steud. APNI* Synonyms: Hordeum murinum subsp. glaucum (Steud.) Tzvelev APNI*
Description: Tufted annual to 0.4 m high.
Leaves with ligule membranous, to 1 mm long; auricles membranous; blade flat, to 7 mm wide, scattered with hairs to 0.5 mm long.
Inflorescence spicate, dense, 2–8 cm long to 1 cm wide (excluding awns); rachis breaking between each node at maturity. Spikelets 7–12 mm long (excluding awns), in triplets, florets 1; lateral spikelets male with pedicels to 1.5 mm long; central spikelet female, sessile. Male spikelet with glumes unequal, lower 4–6 mm long, margins with hairs to 1 mm long, tapering to an awn to 20 mm long; upper bristle-like, 4–5 mm long, tapering to an awn to 25 mm long; lemma 7–10 mm long, tapering to an awn to 34 mm long; palea subequal to lemma. Female spikelet with glumes equal, 4–7 mm long, margins with rigid hairs to 1 mm long, tapering to an awn to 20 mm long; lemma 5–8 mm long, tapering to an awn to 27 mm long; palea subequal to lemma.
Flowering: spring.
Distribution and occurrence: Widespread weed. Native of Medit. region.
NSW subdivisions: *NC, *CC, *SC, *NT, *CT, *ST, *NWS, *CWS, *SWS, *NWP, *SWP, *NFWP, *SFWP, *LHI
Other Australian states: *Vic. *Tas. *W.A. *S.A.
Hordeum glaucum and Hordeum leporinum are diploid and tetraploid respectively; they have been distinguished on anther size but this character is not completely reliable and it can be difficult to separate the 2 species.
Text by S. W. L. Jacobs & K. L. McClay
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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