Wall barley

Appearance

It is an annual winter species whose seeds germinate and develop in the spring. It can grow to 30 cm in height, and its unbranched spikes can reach 10 cm long. It produces small, dry nutlets and its leaves can be 8 mm wide with short, blunt ligules.

Naming

In England in the late 20th century among children the plant was referred to colloquially as the 'Flea Dart', from the aerodynamic shape of its seedhead, and the aphids that are often present witin it in its immature state.

Distribution

Eurosiberian Southern-temperate distribution, but it is widely naturalised so that its distribution is now Circumpolar Southern-temperate.

Habitat

It flowers during May through July in mainly coastal areas.
The grass is often placed against walls or bushes where the sun shines well. It is a heat-loving species. Also, the soil must be sandy and constantly fertilized, for example by passerby fauna.