Wall Barley
Hordeum murinum
About
The feathery flower spikes of Wall Barley are a common sight along many urban pavements, pushing their way between the cracks in walls and stones. Wall Barley is also commonly found on waste grounds and bare patches in dry grasslands. Although the flowers may look soft, they are as clingy as Burdock burs and have also been the subject of many games as children desperately try to stick them to each other and unsuspecting pets.
How to identify
The distinctive bearded, green flower heads of Wall Barley appear from June to July and are easy to spot in an urban environment. Its spikelets (containing the flowers) are positioned close to each other in rows, forming a rectangular flower head with spiky tufts.
