Two rowed barley
Hordeum distichon
Family: Poaceae
What it is like
An annual grass. It grows 15-20 cm high. Only the central spike of each 3 is fertile so there ends up 2 long rows or fertile spikes in each spikelet.
There are about 20 Hordeum species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Britain, Canada, Caucasus, Central Asia, China, East Africa, Egypt, Europe, Greece, Himalayas, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Korea, Kurdistan, Macedonia, Mediterranean, Middle East, Mozambique, Nepal, North Africa, North America, Pakistan, South Africa, Southern Africa, Spain, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Tibet, Turkey, Türkiye, USA
How it is used for food
It is often used for malting for beer.
It is a cultivated crop in some places.
Edible parts
Seeds, cereal
How it is grown
It ripens in 3 months. This allows double cropping.