Annual to 1 m tall. Leaf blade to 30 cm long. Ligule 1-2 mm long. Inflorescence mostly 5-10 cm long excluding awns, 6-ranked but only the 2 central and opposite ranks developing mature grain. Spikelets with glumes 1-1.5 cm long. Lemma as long as at least the central spikelet with a rough awn 5-15 cm long.

Cultivated Origin

This is a cultigen that has been considerably altered by human selection over many thousands of years. It is believed that the wild H. vulgare L. subsp. spontaneum (K. Koch) Körn. which was cultivated over 10 000 years ago gave rise to the form with a 2-rowed spike, subsp. distichon (L.) Körn., which then produced the 4- and 6-rowed forms of subsp. vulgare. This subspecies occurs in the wild where seed is dropped but rarely persists.

Source: Spencer, R.; Aldous, D.; Stajsic, V.; McGeary, D (2005). Poaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press. (as Hordeum vulgare subsp. distichon)