Common name
Mediterranean Barley Grass

Derivation
Hordeum L., Sp. Pl. 84 (1753); Hordeum is the ancient Latin name for barley.

hystrix- from the Greek hystrix (hedgehog). The long awned spikelets resemble a hedgehog.

Published in
Catal. Bot. 1: 23 (1797).

Common synonyms
Critesion hystrix (Roth) A.Löve
Hordeum geniculatum All.

Habit
Annual. Culms erect or geniculately ascending, 6–35 cm tall. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 0.25–0.5 mm long, hyaline. Leaf-blades flat, 1–6 cm long, (0.75–)2–3.25 mm wide.

Inflorescence
Inflorescence solid, a panicle. Rhachis fracturing into irregular segments.

Spikelets
Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, 8.5–11.5 mm long.

Glumes
Lower glume subulate or oblong, 7–14 mm long, chartaceous or cartilaginous. Lower glume apex awned.

Florets
Fertile lemma elliptic or oblong or ovate, 9–11.5 mm long. Lemma apex acuminate, awned. Median (principal) awn 6–10 mm long overall. Anthers 0.75–1.25 mm long, pallid or purple.

Continental Distribution:
Europe, Australasia.

Australian Distribution:
Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania.

Western Australia: Irwin, Drummond, Dale, Menzies, Roe. South Australia: Nullabor, Northern Lofty, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South-eastern. Queensland: Burnett, Moreton. New South Wales: Central Coast, Northern Tablelands, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, Central-Western Slopes, South-Western Slopes, South-Western Plains. Victoria: Murray Mallee, Lowan Mallee, Wimmera, Wannon, Grampians, Riverina, Midlands, Victorian Volcanic Plain, Otway Plain, Eastern Highlands, Gippsland Plains, Wilsons Promontory, East Gippsland. Tasmania: North West, North East, West Coast.

Classification. (GPWG 2001):
Pooideae: Triticeae

Notes
Introduced. A widely distributed weed of disturbed, sandy (and often saline) soils. Flowers Sept.–Jan.