Sprat Barley (Hordeum zeocriton)
At a glance
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Exposure
- Full sun
Cultivation
Succeeds in most soils and in climates ranging from sub-arctic to sub-tropical. A form of H. distichon with divaricate awns and short pyramidal spikes, it is occasionally cultivated in Scotland.
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.
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
Native range
Europe to C. Asia.