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Hordeum vulgare
  • Barley

an annual member of the Hordeum genus in the family Gramineae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 4
    Zone 4
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Hordeum vulgare has 0 edible uses listed
Hordeum vulgare has 0 material uses listed
Hordeum vulgare has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Seed - cooked as a whole grain or ground up and used as a flour for making bread, porridges etc[1][2][3][4]. It has a low gluten content and so is unsuitable for making wheat-type breads[238, K]. The seed can be fermented into sourdough and many other fermented foods such as 'tempeh' and 'miso'[4]. The seed can also be sprouted and added to salads or the sprouted seed juiced and the juice drunk as a health-food drink[4].

The decorticated seed is called pearl barley. This is no longer viable since the decortication process damages the embryo. It is used in soups, stews etc[5]. Malt is obtained by sprouting the whole seed and then roasting it. The seed is then ground into a flour and boiled in water. The resulting liquid is very sweet and can be used in making beer or other drinks, and as a nutritious sweetener in various foods.[2][3].

The roasted (unsprouted) seed is used as a coffee[3][4] and a salt substitute.

Unknown part

Coffee
Drink
Salt
Sweetener

Seed

Unknown use

Material uses

The stems, after the seed has been harvested, have many uses. They are a source of fibres for making paper, a biomass for fuel etc, they can be shredded and used as a mulch[6][7].

Unknown part

Biomass
Mulch
Paper

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The shoots are diuretic[8].

The seed sprouts are demulcent, expectorant, galactofuge, lenitive and stomachic[9][8]. They are sometimes abortifacient[8]. They are used in the treatment of dyspepsia caused by cereals, infantile lacto-dyspepsia, regurgitation of milk and breast distension[9]. They are best not given to a nursing mother since this can reduce milk flow[9]. The seed is digestive, emollient, nutritive, febrifuge and stomachic[8]. It is taken internally as a nutritious food or as barley water (an infusion of the germinated seed in water) and is of special use for babies and invalids[5]. Its use is said to reduce excessive lactation[5]. Barley is also used as a poultice for burns and wounds[10][3][9][8]. The plant has a folk history of antitumour activity[8]. The germinating seed has a hypoglycaemic effect preceded by a hyperglycaemic action[8].

Modern research has shown that barley may be of aid in the treatment of hepatitis, whilst other trials have shown that it may help to control diabetes[11]. Barley bran may have the effect of lowering blood cholesterol levels and preventing bowel cancer[11].

Unknown part

Abortifacient
Cancer
Carminative
Demulcent
Digestive
Diuretic
Emollient
Expectorant
Febrifuge
Galactofuge
Hypoglycaemic
Lenitive
Nutritive
Poultice
Stomachic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ in March or October and only just cover the seed. Make sure the soil surface does not dry out if the weather is dry. Germination takes place within 2 weeks.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Hordeum vulgare. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Succeeds in most soils and in climates ranging from sub-arctic to sub-tropical[12][7]. Easily grown in light soils[13]. Prefers a calcareous soil[2]. Best grown in a sunny position[5]. Barley first came under cultivation about 12,000 years ago[5]. It is widely cultivated in Temperate areas of the world for its edible seed, there are many named varieties[14][4]. It succeeds further north than most other cereal crops (it succeeds in Norway at latitude 70° N[15]), and at higher altitudes (it is a staple crop in Tibet)[14][5]. The Coeleste group contains the hull-less barleys. Although lower yielding than the type, these hull-less seeds are much easier to harvest making them a much easier crop to grow on a small scale[4].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Hordeum vulgare. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Hordeum vulgare.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Hordeum vulgare
Genus
Hordeum
Family
Gramineae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5]
Medicinal uses
[8][9][5][10][3][11]
Material uses & Functions
[6][7]
Botanic
[12][16]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
4
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
  • Strong wind
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
None listed.
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
?
Herbaceous or Woody
?
Life Cycle
annual
Growth Rate
?
Mature Size
1 x 0.2 meters
Fertility
?
Pollinators
Wind
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
hermaphrodite

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"image:Gerst_aar.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Gerst_aar.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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References

  1. ? 1.01.1 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
  2. ? 2.02.12.22.3 Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald ISBN 0-356-10541-5 (1984-00-00)
  3. ? 3.03.13.23.33.43.5 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
  4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.44.54.6 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
  5. ? 5.05.15.25.35.45.55.65.7 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
  6. ? 6.06.1 Carruthers. S. P. (Editor) Alternative Enterprises for Agriculture in the UK. Centre for Agricultural Strategy, Univ. of Reading ISBN 0704909820 (1986-00-00)
  7. ? 7.07.17.2 Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press (1952-00-00)
  8. ? 8.08.18.28.38.48.58.68.7 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (1985-00-00)
  9. ? 9.09.19.29.39.4 Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles (1985-00-00)
  10. ? 10.010.1 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
  11. ? 11.011.111.2 Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London ISBN 9-780751-303148 (1996-00-00)
  12. ? 12.012.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
  13. ? Grounds. R. Ornamental Grasses. Christopher Helm ISBN 0-7470-1219-9 (1989-00-00)
  14. ? 14.014.1 Schery. R. W. Plants for Man. ()
  15. ? Brouk. B. Plants Consumed by Man. Academic Press ISBN 0-12-136450-x (1975-00-00)
  16. ? Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)

"image:Gerst_aar.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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Facts about "Hordeum vulgare"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyGramineae +
Belongs to genusHordeum +
Has common nameBarley +
Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
Has edible partUnknown part + and Seeds +
Has edible useCoffee substitute +, Drink +, Salt +, Unknown use + and Sweetener +
Has environmental toleranceHigh wind +
Has fertility typeWind +
Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
Has hardiness zone4 +
Has imageGerst aar.jpg +
Has lifecycle typeAnnual +
Has material partUnknown part +
Has material useBiomass +, Mulch + and Paper +
Has mature height1 +
Has mature width0.2 +
Has medicinal partUnknown part +
Has medicinal useAbortifacient +, Cancer +, Carminative +, Demulcent +, Digestive +, Diuretic +, Emollient +, Expectorant +, Febrifuge +, Galactofuge +, Hypoglycaemic +, Lenitive +, Nutritive +, Poultice + and Stomachic +
Has primary imageGerst_aar.jpg +
Has search namehordeum vulgare + and x +
Has shade toleranceNo shade +
Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomy nameHordeum vulgare +
Has water requirementsmoderate +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Tolerates windYes +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +