Hordeum secalinum

Densely tufted or shortly rhizomatous, often glaucous perennial, culms erect to 70 cm high. Leaf-blades flat, 6–15 cm long and 2–4 mm wide, variably covered with fine spreading hairs; sheaths of lower leaves velvety, those of upper leaves glabrous; ligules membranous, c. 1 mm long; auricles not developed. Spike 4–15 cm long. Glumes of spikelets in each triad subulate, subequal or those of the lateral spikelets slightly shorter, 10–20 mm long; lemma of central spikelet scabrous in upper part, 4–8 mm long, with a straight terminal awn shortly exceeding glumes; awn and lemma of sterile lateral spikelets together only about as long as body of central lemma, or sometimes lateral florets barely developed; palea subequal to lemma. Flowers Oct.–Feb.