Sprat Barley
Hordeum zeocriton
Family: Poaceae or Gramineae
What it is like
Hordeum zeocriton is a ANNUAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in). It is not frost tender. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 1
Where it is found
Not known
Europe to C. Asia.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 2
Seed - cooked. The seed can be ground into a flour and used as a cereal in making bread, porridge etc.
Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating:
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.
Biomass: Provides a large quantity of plant material that can be converted into fuel etc.
Mulch: Used for covering the ground to conserve the nutrients in the soil.
Paper: Related to the entry for Fibre, these plants have been specifically mentioned for paper making.
How it is grown
Succeeds in most soils and in climates ranging from sub-arctic to sub-tropical. Easily grown in light soils. A form of H. distichon with divaricate awns and short pyramidal spikes, it is occasionally cultivated in Scotland.
Propagating it: 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.
Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;
Habit: Annual
Hardiness:
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Moist