Hordeum brachyantherum Nevski subsp.
Meadow barley
Family: Poaceae
Habit: Tufted perennial 2 to 7 dm. tall, mostly glabrous.
Distribution: Meadows, pastures, stream banks in California to Rocky Mountains, Mexico to Alaska. The ssp. californicum is found from California to Oregon.
Seed unit: 3 joined spiklets.
Seed: Central spikelet glumes 7 to 19 mm. long, flat at base and straight with age, lateral spikelet glumes 6.5 to 19 mm long, narrower, straight or spreading with age.
Embryo: Basal-lateral embryo area of seed caryopsis.
Purity instructions: Pure seed definition:
AOSA: PSU#14 - Multiple floret spikelet, multiple floret or floret with or without awn(s), provided a caryopsis with some degree of endosperm development can be detected. Caryopsis or piece of broken caryopsis larger than one half of the original size.
Lab notes: Often samples have multiple floret spikelets or spikelets that are empty with undeveloped caryopses.
Average pure seed units per gram: 239 seeds per gram (based on AOSA pure seed units only from 101 samples received for testing from 1994 to 2003).
Range of percent pure seed: 84% to 99%
Range of percent inert: .01 to 7%
Description of inert: Plant material, chaff.
Planting instructions: 400 seeds, TB, 14 days at 20°C; for fresh and dormant seed, prechill and GA3 recommended.
References: (link to main reference page)
Hickman, J.C., Ed. 1993. p. 1266
Munz, P.A. and D.D. Keck. 1968. p. 1508
Ransom Seed Laboratory
