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Common Name: Two-Rowed Barley

General Information

Hordeum distichon is an annual plant that can grow up to 1.20 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Of uncertain origin, possibly a hybrid between H. spontaneum and a 6-rowed barley[].

Habitat

Not known in the wild. Occurs as a relict of cultivation in Britain but it does not persist[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	1.20 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in most soils and in climates ranging from sub-arctic to sub-tropical[, ]. Easily grown in light soils[].
Widely cultivated in temperate zones, especially in cooler or moister areas, for its edible seed[, , ]. There are many named varieties. This species is sometimes considered to be no more than a sub-species of H. vulgare[].

Edible Uses

Seed - cooked. The seed can be ground into a flour and used as a cereal in making bread, porridge etc[, , , ].
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[, ]. 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[].

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[, ]. It can also be taken to clear catarrh. Its demulcent properties soothes inflammation of the gut and urinary tract[]. 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[, ]. Made into a poultice, the seed is an effective remedy for soothing and reducing inflammation in sores and swellings[].
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[]. Barley bran may have the effect of lowering blood cholesterol levels and preventing bowel cancer[].

Other Uses

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[, ].

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ in early spring or early autumn 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.