Barley grass
Description
Barley grass is the leaf portion of the barley plant (Hordeum vulgare) that remains after the seeds havebeen removed. As a grass, it is also known as a distichon, meaning that it grows in two separate ranks, or rows. The rows of barley grass are parallel to the central axis, forming a loose sheath over the stem, which is sometimes called the culm. This stem is hollow and jointed, and the seeds are ellipitical and furrowed. The barley plant, an annual that requires reseeding each year, reaches a height of up to 3 ft (about 1 m). The plant has an extensive history in human and animal nutrition. As a nutritional supplement, it is preferable to use young barley plants that have not yet developed seeds.