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Foxtail Barley

Hordeum jubatum L.

Poaceae (Grass Family)

▼ ▲ mature plants showing characteristic feathery inflorescences

inflorescences

inflorescences

collar and  ▼ ligule

 

large population of foxtail barley in a moist-soil field

Foxtail Barley

·         Small perennial grass with very distinct inflorescence (like a fox tail or squirrel tail or paintbrush) grows about 1-2’ tall

·         Leaves light to medium green, slender, tapering to fine point at tips

·         Inflorescence a spike of very long-awned spikelets;  awns green to yellow to pinkish in color; has more and/or longer awns than little barley or squirreltail barley; inflorescence breaks apart at maturity, compared to persistent inflorescence of medusahead

·         Awns can irritate livestock feeding on them

·         Found in reduced tillage crops, roadsides, pastures; more common north and west of here

 

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