Hordeum murinum subsp. murinum
Photo: parent species Hordeum murinum · Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Not Native
Hordeum murinum subsp. murinum is a non-native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by winter annual habit, green color, and sessile central spikelets.
Hordeum murinum subsp. murinum is a naturalized annual grass found in the Central Valley, central western California, southern California desert, and northern Sierra Nevada foothills in moist, disturbed sites at elevations of 80 to 1,000 meters. Flowering from February to May, this grass produces green inflorescences with distinctive awned spikelets. Growing with stems 30 to 60 centimeters tall, it spreads readily in disturbed ground. Its leaves are narrow and typical of winter annual grasses, with characteristic grass blade structure. This introduced species is a common weedy grass in agricultural and urban areas, quickly colonizing open ground.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; key features are winter annual habit, green color, and sessile central spikelets
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist, generally disturbed sites
Elevation: 80-1000 m
Outside California: to British Columbia, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Maryland
Bloom period
Hordeum murinum subsp. murinum 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. murinum native to California?
No. Hordeum murinum subsp. murinum is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Hordeum murinum subsp. murinum bloom?
Hordeum murinum subsp. murinum blooms Feb-May.
What plant family does Hordeum murinum subsp. murinum belong to?
Hordeum murinum subsp. murinum is in the Poaceae family, genus Hordeum.
What habitat does Hordeum murinum subsp. murinum grow in?
Hordeum murinum subsp. murinum grows in Moist, generally disturbed sites.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.