# Meadow barley (*Hordeum brachyantherum*)

Meadow barley is a grassy plant that grows in fields and meadows. It has long, slender stems and can sway gently in the breeze, making it look like it's dancing in the wind.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![Meadow barley](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Hordeum_brachyantherum.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Stephen Laymon, Bureau of Land Management, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hordeum_brachyantherum.jpg)

## Appearance

The Meadow barley has slender, upright stems topped with distinctive bristly flower heads. These green heads mature into a golden-tan color with long awns, making it visually distinct from smooth-headed grasses.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Poales
- **Family:** Poaceae
- **Genus:** Hordeum

## Interesting facts

- Indigenous peoples historically harvested Meadow barley seeds for food, grinding them into flour.
- Its seeds are related to the barley grain humans use for food and drinks!
- Meadow barley often grows along trails and roads, showing it can handle tough conditions!
- The spiky bits on its seed heads can stick to your clothes, helping them travel to new places!

## Special abilities

- **Tough Roots:** Meadow barley has fibrous roots that help hold soil in place, preventing erosion, especially on slopes.
- **Wind Whisperer:** Meadow barley relies on wind, not insects, to carry its pollen, allowing it to thrive in many open habitats.
- **Seed Spreader:** This grass produces many seeds that can easily scatter and germinate, helping it colonize new areas quickly.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-100 cm
- **Spread:** 15-45 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to late summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** [Mule deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Its leaves and stems are a food source for deer.
- **Eats:** [Deer mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/deer-mouse) (*Peromyscus maniculatus*) — Small rodents eat its nutritious seeds.
- **Eaten by:** [Song sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/song-sparrow) (*Melospiza melodia*) — Various birds consume its seeds, especially in autumn.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Grass-Like](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grass-like): Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always stay on paths when exploring meadows to protect plants and animals.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Meadow barley?

Compare seed heads, stem shape, how leaves attach, and the joint where leaf meets stem. A patch of mown lawn rarely shows enough for an exact ID. Grass Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Meadow barley?

30-100 cm

### How wide does Meadow barley spread?

15-45 cm

### When does Meadow barley bloom?

Late spring to late summer

### Is Meadow barley edible?

Yes

### Is Meadow barley toxic?

None

### What is Meadow barley's lifecycle?

Perennial

### How is Meadow barley pollinated?

Wind

## Where to spot

- [Sabine Channel Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sabine-channel-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Meadow barley: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/meadow-barley)