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Hordeum is a genus of annual and perennial plants in the grass family. The species are native throughout the temperate regions of Africa, Eurasia, and the Americas.

TaxonomyEdit

SpeciesEdit

Species include:<ref name=v/><ref>Biota of North America Program 2013 county distribution maps</ref><ref>The Plant List search for Hordeum </ref><ref> {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} </ref> Template:Div col

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Formerly included speciesEdit

Botanists now regard many species as better suited to other genera:<ref name=v/> Arrhenatherum, Crithopsis, Dasypyrum, Elymus, Eremopyrum, Hordelymus, Leymus, Psathyrostachys, and Taeniatherum.

EtymologyEdit

The name Hordeum comes from the Latin word for "to bristle" (horreō, horrēre),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and is akin to the word "horror".

DistributionEdit

The species are native throughout the temperate regions of Africa, Eurasia, and the Americas.<ref>Flora of China Vol. 22 Page 395 大麦属 da mai shu Hordeum Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 84. 1753. </ref><ref>Flora of Pakistan</ref><ref>Altervista Flora Italiana genere Hordeum includes photos + distribution maps of several species</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

EcologyEdit

Hordeum species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, including the flame, rustic shoulder-knot and setaceous Hebrew character.

Some species have become weeds introduced worldwide by human activities, others have become endangered due to habitat loss.

UsesEdit

One species, H. vulgare (barley), has become of major commercial importance as a cereal grain, used as fodder crop and for malting in the production of beer and whiskey.

ReferencesEdit

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External linksEdit

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