Hordeum depressum (Scribn. & Sm.) Rydb   = H. nodosum   Poaceae (Grass Family)   Native   Meadow Barley   Low Barley

                               April Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Annual, the culms, geniculate at base, 0.5-4.5 dm. high; the upper sheaths often inflated; blade pubescent, 2-4 mm. wide; spike erect, 4-7 cm. long; fls. of cent. spikelet 7-8 mm. long, subterete, glumes of central spikelets slightly flattened to 0.5 mm. at base, the awn ca. 10 mm. long; awn of glumes and glumes of lateral spikelets sub-equal, ca. 2 cm. long; pedicels of lateral spikelets almost straight; lateral florets with acute but awnless lemmas.

Habitat:  Moist, +/- alkaline places, below 5000 ft.; many plant communities; to B.C.  April-May.

Name:  Latin, hordeum, barley.  (Jaeger 120).  Latin, de, down, and pressare, to press. (Jaeger 76,207).   Depressum, pressed down.  John Johnson, was not familiar with the habit of the plant and was not able to suggest the application of the name.

General:  Uncommon in the study area, some found in the flats on the westerly side of the Delhi Ditch and photographed there (my comments).      Similar to H. californicum, which is a perennial.  In all species of Hordeum the spikelets form a spike or head similar to that of the cultivated wheat and barleys.  At each joint of the axis of the spike there are three spikelets, each one flowered.  Each spikelet is subtended by two narrow glumes, and hence at each joint of the axis will occur three pairs of glumes, which, due to their narrowness, appear as short awns, while the true awn of the lemma is very long and much stiffer.  In H. depressum, the lateral florets generally remain attached and are set on relatively long pedicels on either side of the grain bearing spikelet.  (Robbins et al. 83).

Text Ref:  Hickman, Ed. 1266; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 976; Robbins et al. 81; Roberts 47.

Photo Ref:  April-May  84 # 5; Mar 2-April 84 # 24; May-July 95 # 5A.

Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by F. Roberts.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 47.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 4/16/03.

                                           May Photo