Barley

Barley
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Poaceae
Subfamily:	Pooideae
Genus:	Hordeum
Species:	H. vulgare
Binomial name
Hordeum vulgare L.[1]
Synonyms[2]
List Frumentum hordeum E.H.L.Krause nom. illeg. Frumentum sativum E.H.L.Krause Hordeum aestivum R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum americanum R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum bifarium Roth Hordeum brachyatherum R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum caspicum R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum coeleste (L.) P.Beauv. Hordeum daghestanicum R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum defectoides R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum durum R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum elongatum R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum gymnodistichum Duthie Hordeum heterostychon P.Beauv. [Spelling variant] Hordeum hexastichon L. Hordeum hibernaculum R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum hibernans R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum himalayense Schult. Hordeum hirtiusculum R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum horsfordianum R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum ircutianum R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum jarenskianum R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum juliae R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum kalugense R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum karzinianum R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum kiarchanum R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum laevipaleatum R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum lapponicum R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum leptostachys Griff. Hordeum macrolepis A.Braun Hordeum mandshuricum R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum mandshuroides R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum michalkowii R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum nekludowii R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum nigrum Willd. Hordeum pamiricum Vavilov nom. inval. Hordeum parvum R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum pensanum R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum polystichon Haller Hordeum praecox R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum pyramidatum R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum revelatum (Körn.) A.Schulz Hordeum sativum Jess. nom. illeg. Hordeum sativum Pers. nom. inval. Hordeum scabriusculum R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum septentrionale R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum stassewitschii R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum strobelense Chiov. Hordeum taganrocense R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum tanaiticum R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum tetrastichum Stokes Hordeum transcaucasicum R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum violaceum R.E.Regel nom. inval. Hordeum walpersii R.E.Regel nom. inval. Secale orientale Schreb. ex Roth nom. inval.

Barley (Hordeum vulgare), a member of the grass family, is a major cereal grain grown in temperate climates globally. It was one of the first cultivated grains; it was domesticated in the Fertile Crescent around 9000 BC, giving it nonshattering spikelets and making it much easier to harvest. Its use then spread throughout Eurasia by 2000 BC. Barley prefers relatively low temperatures and well-drained soil to grow. It is relatively tolerant of drought and soil salinity but is less winter-hardy than wheat or rye.

In 2022, barley was fourth among grains in quantity produced, 155 million tonnes, behind maize, wheat, and rice. Globally, 70% of barley production is used as animal feed, while 30% is used as a source of fermentable material for beer, or further distilled into whisky, and as a component of various foods. It is used in soups and stews and in barley bread of various cultures. Barley grains are commonly made into malt using a traditional and ancient method of preparation. In English folklore, John Barleycorn personifies the grain and the alcoholic beverages made from it. English pub names such as The Barley Mow allude to its role in the production of beer.