Foxtail Barley

Foxtail Barley

Hordeum jubatum L.

Poaceae (Grass Family)

▼ ▲ mature plants showing characteristic feathery 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