Meadow Barley

Hordeum brachyantherum

Meadow Barley

Stephen Laymon, Bureau of Land Management

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Poaceae
Genus:
Hordeum
Species:
Hordeum brachyantherum

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Graminoid
Height:
3-4 ft
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Low
Bloom Months:
may, jun, jul
Bloom Colors:
Green, Purple, Brown

Native Range

United States: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Maine, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
moist, fertile, well-drained loam
pH:
5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
Commonly found in wet meadows and marshes

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Germination is most successful in a warm greenhouse environment, although no specific pre-treatment is required.

Establishment: Seeds are collected between June 1st and July 31st. Mature inflorescences are light brown. Seed is easily collected when a cupped hand is dragged across seed stalks. The plant is found in moist places below 5,000 feet elevation; from Alaska south to California, and through the Rocky Mountains to New Mexico and east across Canada to Labrador.

Source: npn.rngr.net