Hordeum jubatum L.

• Authority

  Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

• Family

  Poaceae

• Scientific Name

  Hordeum jubatum L.

• Description

  Species Description - Tufted perennial (sometimes fl the first year) 3–7 dm, glabrous to densely soft-hairy; lvs flat to involute, 1.5–4(–5) mm wide; auricles wanting or less than 0.5 mm; spikes 4–10 cm (excl. awns), nodding, commonly purpurescent, often appearing as a mass of upwardly scabrous awns; central spikelet of a triad sessile, the lateral on curved pedicels 0.7–1.2 mm, their florets reduced, borne on rachilla-joints ca 0.7 mm; glumes long and awn-like, 2.5–6(–15) cm; fertile lemma 5.5–8 mm, faintly 5-veined, tapering into an awn 1–6 cm; anthers 1–1.5 mm; 2n=14, 28, 42. A weed along roadsides, and often becoming abundant in fields and moist or wet meadows; Nf. to Alas., s. to Del., Ill., Mo., Tex., and Calif. Hybridizes with several spp. of Elymus, q.v.

• Common Names

  foxtail-barley