Common barley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Common barley
In a farmfield in Japan
Botanical illustration
Scientific classification
Genus:	Hordeum
Species:	distichon
Synonyms
List Hordeum anglicum Gand. Hordeum bohemicum R.E.Regel Hordeum chevalieri R.E.Regel Hordeum colchicum R.E.Regel Hordeum deficiens Steud. ex A.Braun Hordeum distichon convar. nudum (L.) Tzvelev Hordeum distichon convar. zeocriton (L.) Tzvelev Hordeum elisabethpolense R.E.Regel Hordeum eriwanense R.E.Regel Hordeum europaeum R.E.Regel Hordeum germanicum R.E.Regel Hordeum glabrum R.E.Regel Hordeum imberbe Ard. ex Roem. & Schult. Hordeum irregulare Åberg & Wiebe Hordeum kentii R.E.Regel Hordeum korshinskianum R.E.Regel Hordeum laxum R.E.Regel Hordeum lenkoranicum R.E.Regel Hordeum macrolepis A.Braun Hordeum monticola R.E.Regel Hordeum nudideficiens R.E.Regel Hordeum praecocius R.E.Regel Hordeum princeps R.E.Regel Hordeum richardsonii R.E.Regel Hordeum scandinavicum R.E.Regel Hordeum suecicum R.E.Regel Hordeum turkestanicum R.E.Regel Hordeum vilmorianum R.E.Regel Hordeum volhynicum R.E.Regel Hordeum vulgare subsp. deficiens (Steud. ex A.Braun) Á.Löve Hordeum vulgare subsp. distichon (L.) Körn. Hordeum werneri R.E.Regel Hordeum wolgense R.E.Regel Hordeum zeocriton L. Zeocriton commune P.Beauv. Zeocriton distichon (L.) P.Beauv. Zeocriton vulgare Gray

Hordeum distichon, often called common barley or two-rowed barley, is a special type of barley. It's a plant that people have grown for a long time, meaning it's a cultigen. It belongs to the Poaceae family, which is also known as the grass family.

This type of barley first came from Iraq. Today, it is grown all over the world in places with mild climates. Some experts think it's actually a type of six-rowed barley, which is called Hordeum vulgare.

About Two-Rowed Barley

Two-rowed barley is very important for making certain drinks. In Europe, it's the main ingredient used for malting and brewing beer. This is because it has less protein compared to the six-rowed barley often used in North America.

What is Barley?

Barley is a type of cereal grain. It is one of the oldest cultivated grains in the world. People have been growing it for thousands of years. It's a key crop for both humans and animals.

Where Does it Grow?

This specific type of barley, Hordeum distichon, originally came from the country of Iraq. Now, you can find it growing in many different parts of the world. It thrives in areas that have a temperate climate. This means places that have mild winters and warm summers.

How is it Used?

Two-rowed barley is mostly used for a process called malting. Malting is when grains are soaked in water, allowed to sprout, and then dried. This process changes the starches in the grain into sugars. These sugars are then used to make things like beer.

• Brewing: In Europe, this barley is the main choice for making beer. Its lower protein content is perfect for creating the right flavors and textures in European beers.
• Animal Feed: Like other types of barley, it can also be used as food for farm animals.
• Food for People: While not as common as other grains, barley can also be used in foods like soups, stews, and bread.

See also

In Spanish: Cebada para niños