Six-Row Barley (Hordeum hexastichon)
At a glance
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Exposure
- Full sun
Cultivation
Succeeds in most soils and in climates ranging from sub-arctic to sub-tropical. This species is considered by most botanists to be no more than a part of H. vulgare.
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.
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. This is a sweet substance and is used in making beer and as a food. The roasted (unsprouted) seed is used as a coffee and a salt substitute.
Material 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.
Habitat
Not known in a truly wild situation.
Native range
Of uncertain origin.