Herb: Bulbous Barley


Latin name: Hordeum bulbosum


Family: Gramineae (Grass Family)



Edible parts of Bulbous Barley:

Seed - cooked. The seed can be ground into a flour and used as a cereal in making bread, porridge etc. Root - chewed or occasionally eaten.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Perennial


Height:
120 cm
(4 feet)

Flowering:
June
to July

Habitat of the herb:

Dry grassland.

Other uses of Bulbous Barley:

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.

Propagation of the herb:

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 of Bulbous Barley:

Dry grassland.

Medicinal use of the herb:

None known

Known hazards of Hordeum bulbosum:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.