Hordeum distichon
| Hordeum distichon | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 4 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 4' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Late Summer |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Hordeum distichon (common name: two-rowed barley)
Propagation: 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.
Cultivation: Succeeds in most soils and in climates ranging from sub-arctic to sub-tropical[1][2]. Easily grown in light soils[3].
Widely cultivated in temperate zones, especially in cooler or moister areas, for its edible seed[1][4][2]. There are many named varieties. This species is sometimes considered to be no more than a sub-species of H. vulgare[5].
Range: Of uncertain origin, possibly a hybrid between H. spontaneum and a 6-rowed barley[6].
Habitat: Not known in the wild. Occurs as a relict of cultivation in Britain but it does not persist[7].
Edibility: Seed - cooked. The seed can be ground into a flour and used as a cereal in making bread, porridge etc[1][8][6][9].
Malt is obtained by sprouting and roasting the seed, then boiling the seed. The resulting liquid is a sweet substance that is used in making beer and as a food[8][9]. The longer the seed is roasted, the darker this liquid will be.
The roasted (unsprouted) seed is used as a coffee and a salt substitute[9].
Medicinal: Barley grain is an excellent food for convalescence, either in the form of porridge or as a decoction of the seed. It is soothing to the throat and provides easily assimilated nutrients[8][10]. It can also be taken to clear catarrh. Its demulcent properties soothes inflammation of the gut and urinary tract[10]. It is commonly given to children suffering minor infections or diarrhoea and is particularly recommended as a treatment for feverish states and in catarrhal affections of the respiratory and urinary organs[8][10]. Made into a poultice, the seed is an effective remedy for soothing and reducing inflammation in sores and swellings[10].
Modern research has shown that barley may be of aid in the treatment of hepatitis, whilst other trials have shown that it may help to control diabetes[10]. Barley bran may have the effect of lowering blood cholesterol levels and preventing bowel cancer[10].
Usage: 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[11][2].
Pollinators: Wind
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: H. vulgare distichon.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Hill, Albert. Economic Botany. The Maple Press, 1952.
- ↑ Grounds, Roger. Ornamental Grasses. Christopher Helm, 1989.
- ↑ Tutin, Tom et al.. Flora Europaea. Cambridge University Press, 1964.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Nicholson, Barbara and Stephen Harrison. The Oxford Book of Food Plants. Oxford University Press, 1975.
- ↑ Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.
- ↑ Carruthers, S. Alternative Enterprises for Agriculture in the UK. Centre for Agricultural Strategy, Univ. of Reading, 1986.