Hordeum brachyantherum subsp. californicum
California barley, California Barley
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Hordeum brachyantherum subsp. californicum (California barley) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by key distinction from subsp. brachyantherum is sheath hairiness and leaf width.
California barley is a native perennial grass found throughout California (excluding the desert) in meadows, pastures, and streambank habitats at elevations below 3,400 meters. Flowering from March to July, this plant produces delicate grass inflorescences with slender, spreading seed clusters. Growing 20 to 65 centimeters tall with thin, graceful stems, it features densely hairy leaf sheaths and narrow blades. Its leaves are distinctively hairy, typically less than 11.5 centimeters long and rarely wider than 3.5 millimeters, with a mix of short and long hairs covering the blade surface. The seed heads have elongated awns up to 7.5 millimeters long, giving the plant a soft, feathery appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; key distinction from subsp. brachyantherum is sheath hairiness and leaf width
Habitat and range
Habitat: Meadows, pastures, streambanks
Elevation: < 3400 m
California counties: Mendocino, San Luis Obispo, San Bernardino, Lake, Riverside, Santa Barbara, Solano, Ventura, Tulare, San Diego, Stanislaus, Marin, Monterey, Fresno, Los Angeles, Nevada, Mono, Orange, Tehama, Humboldt, Mariposa, Inyo, Kern, Lassen, San Mateo, Sonoma, Tuolumne, El Dorado, Santa Cruz, Colusa, Kings, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Glenn, Siskiyou, Sacramento, Alameda, Madera, Calaveras, Alpine, Modoc, Placer, Yolo
Bloom period
Hordeum brachyantherum subsp. californicum blooms Mar-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Bromus: Hordeum has three spikelets per node in a spike; Bromus has separate spikelets in loose clusters.; vs Triticum: Hordeum has three spikelets per node; Triticum has one spikelet per node.; vs Taeniatherum: Hordeum has the central spikelet stalkless; check if side spikelets are stalked.; vs Setaria: Hordeum has three grouped spikelets per node; Setaria has dense bristly single spikelets.; vs Elymus: Hordeum has hollow stems; Elymus has solid stems between nodes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hordeum brachyantherum subsp. californicum native to California?
Yes. Hordeum brachyantherum subsp. californicum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Hordeum brachyantherum subsp. californicum bloom?
Hordeum brachyantherum subsp. californicum blooms Mar-Jul.
Where in California does Hordeum brachyantherum subsp. californicum grow?
Hordeum brachyantherum subsp. californicum occurs in Mendocino, San Luis Obispo, San Bernardino, Lake, Riverside, Santa Barbara, Solano, Ventura and other counties, at elevations of < 3400 m.
What plant family does Hordeum brachyantherum subsp. californicum belong to?
Hordeum brachyantherum subsp. californicum is in the Poaceae family, genus Hordeum.
What habitat does Hordeum brachyantherum subsp. californicum grow in?
Hordeum brachyantherum subsp. californicum grows in Meadows, pastures, streambanks.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.