Practical
Plants

Hordeum distichon

Two-Rowed Barley

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

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Gramineae
Genus
Hordeum
Life cycle
annual
Height
1.2 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - cooked. The seed can be ground into a flour and used as a cereal in making bread, porridge etc[1][8][7][9]. Malt is obtained by sprouting and roasting the seed, then boiling the seed. The resulting liquid is a sweet substance that is used in making beer and as a food[8][9]. The longer the seed is roasted, the darker this liquid will be. The roasted (unsprouted) seed is used as a coffee and a salt substitute[9].

Product or use
Coffee
Product or use
Salt
Product or use
Sweetener
Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Barley grain is an excellent food for convalescence, either in the form of porridge or as a decoction of the seed. It is soothing to the throat and provides easily assimilated nutrients[8][6]. It can also be taken to clear catarrh. Its demulcent properties soothes inflammation of the gut and urinary tract[6]. It is commonly given to children suffering minor infections or diarrhoea and is particularly recommended as a treatment for feverish states and in catarrhal affections of the respiratory and urinary organs[8][6]. Made into a poultice, the seed is an effective remedy for soothing and reducing inflammation in sores and swellings[6]. 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[6]. Barley bran may have the effect of lowering blood cholesterol levels and preventing bowel cancer[6].

Product or use
Demulcent
Product or use
Nutritive

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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[2][5].

Product or use
Biomass
Product or use
Mulch
Product or use
Paper

Environment

Range
Of uncertain origin, possibly a hybrid between H. spontaneum and a 6-rowed barley[7].
Habitat
Not known in the wild. Occurs as a relict of cultivation in Britain but it does not persist[4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in most soils and in climates ranging from sub-arctic to sub-tropical[1][5]. Easily grown in light soils[3]. Widely cultivated in temperate zones, especially in cooler or moister areas, for its edible seed[1][10][5]. There are many named varieties. This species is sometimes considered to be no more than a sub-species of H. vulgare[11].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Carruthers. S. P. (Editor) Alternative Enterprises for Agriculture in the UK. Centre for Agricultural Strategy, Univ. of Reading 1986-00-00 ISBN 0704909820

    ↩

  3. Grounds. R. Ornamental Grasses. Christopher Helm 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-7470-1219-9

    ↩

  4. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  5. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  7. Harrison. S. Wallis. M. Masefield. G. The Oxford Book of Food Plants. Oxford University Press 1975-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  8. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  9. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  11. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

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