Hordeum jubatum
Morphology General Habit
Perennial; short-lived; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30-75 cm long. Culm-nodes brown. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.2-0.5 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades 6-15 cm long; 2-4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; glabrous, or pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence composed of racemes. Racemes 1; single; linear; bilateral; 4-10 cm long; 4-6 mm wide. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes oblong; falling with spikelet above. Spikelets in threes. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels oblong.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; comprising 2 subequal glumes without lemmas, or containing empty lemmas; linear; as long as fertile; deciduous with the fertile. Companion sterile spikelet glumes subulate; 35-80 mm long. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 0-1; 0.5 mm long; 1-awned; with 35-80 mm long awn. Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 4-7 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.
Sterile
Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; comprising 2 subequal glumes without lemmas, or containing empty lemmas; linear; as long as fertile; deciduous with the fertile. Companion sterile spikelet glumes subulate; 35-80 mm long. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 0-1; 0.5 mm long; 1-awned; with 35-80 mm long awn.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 4-7 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes collateral; similar; shorter than spikelet; gaping. Lower glume subulate; 35-80 mm long; 1 length of upper glume. Lower glume surface scabrous. Upper glume subulate; 35-80 mm long. Upper glume surface scabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4-7 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 35-80 mm long overall.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Anthers 3. Ovary pubescent on apex.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; hairy at apex. Hilum linear.