Hordeum depressum
Low barley, alkali barley, Alkali Barley
(c) D Defreese, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by D Defreese · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Hordeum depressum (Low barley) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by annual habit, vernal pool habitat, and enclosed inflorescence.
Low barley is a California native annual grass found in moist sites with alkaline soils across the state's central and southern regions at elevations below 2,200 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces pale green to reddish inflorescences 2.2 to 7 centimeters long with delicate flower clusters. Growing in loosely tufted clusters 10 to 55 centimeters tall with erect stems, it develops distinctive glabrous nodes. Its leaf blades are narrow, up to 7.5 centimeters long and 4.5 millimeters wide, with surfaces that are sparsely to densely hairy. The plant's central spikelets feature glumes 5.5 to 20 millimeters long with straight awns 3 to 12 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; key features are annual habit, vernal pool habitat, and enclosed inflorescence
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist sites, vernal pools, generally alkaline soils
Elevation: < 2200 m
California counties: Contra Costa, Kern, San Bernardino, Orange, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, Yolo, Los Angeles, Stanislaus, Riverside, Tulare, Alameda, Siskiyou, San Diego, Santa Clara, Kings, Marin, San Joaquin, Alpine, Colusa, Mono, San Benito, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Ventura, Merced, Monterey, Butte, Napa, Sacramento, Santa Barbara, Sonoma, Glenn, Lake, Mendocino, Humboldt, Placer, Solano, Madera, Amador, El Dorado
Outside California: to Washington, Idaho
Bloom period
Hordeum depressum blooms Apr-May.
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 depressum native to California?
Yes. Hordeum depressum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Hordeum depressum bloom?
Hordeum depressum blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Hordeum depressum grow?
Hordeum depressum occurs in Contra Costa, Kern, San Bernardino, Orange, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, Yolo, Los Angeles and other counties, at elevations of < 2200 m.
What plant family does Hordeum depressum belong to?
Hordeum depressum is in the Poaceae family, genus Hordeum.
What habitat does Hordeum depressum grow in?
Hordeum depressum grows in Moist sites, vernal pools, generally alkaline soils.
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.