Hordeum murinum subsp. leporinum
Hare barley, Hare Barley
Photo: parent species Hordeum murinum · Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Not Native
Hordeum murinum subsp. leporinum (Hare barley) is a non-native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by winter annual habit, large size, and purple color at maturity.
Hare barley is a naturalized annual grass found throughout California (except the Klamath Ranges) in moist, generally disturbed sites at elevations below 1,900 meters. Flowering from February to May, this plant produces green inflorescences that transition to purple, with spikelets featuring distinctive awns. Growing with stems 30 to 110 centimeters tall, it develops as a winter annual with an upright, branching habit. Its leaves are narrow and grass-like, typical of the barley family, with multiple leaflets arranged along the stem. The plant's lateral spikelets have rough lower palea surfaces, contributing to its distinctive texture in disturbed landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; key features are winter annual habit, large size, and purple color at maturity
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist, generally disturbed sites
Elevation: < 1900 m
California counties: Humboldt, Kern, Ventura, Tuolumne, Riverside, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz, Orange, San Mateo, Alameda, Sonoma, San Joaquin, San Diego, Inyo, Santa Clara, San Bernardino, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Fresno, Yolo, Contra Costa, San Francisco, Stanislaus, Placer, El Dorado, Solano, Sacramento, Calaveras, Amador, Marin, Sutter, Butte, Mariposa, Nevada, Plumas, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Merced, Napa, San Benito, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tulare, Tehama, Glenn, Colusa, Yuba, Modoc, Del Norte, Trinity, Mono, Imperial
Outside California: to British Columbia, Oklahoma, eastern United States, Mexico
Bloom period
Hordeum murinum subsp. leporinum blooms Feb-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 murinum subsp. leporinum native to California?
No. Hordeum murinum subsp. leporinum is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Hordeum murinum subsp. leporinum bloom?
Hordeum murinum subsp. leporinum blooms Feb-May.
Where in California does Hordeum murinum subsp. leporinum grow?
Hordeum murinum subsp. leporinum occurs in Humboldt, Kern, Ventura, Tuolumne, Riverside, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz, Orange and other counties, at elevations of < 1900 m.
What plant family does Hordeum murinum subsp. leporinum belong to?
Hordeum murinum subsp. leporinum is in the Poaceae family, genus Hordeum.
What habitat does Hordeum murinum subsp. leporinum grow in?
Hordeum murinum subsp. leporinum grows in Moist, generally disturbed sites.
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.